Quasi

Chock full of fuzzy keyboards, aggressive drums and a lifetime's supply of dark humor, Quasi's Featuring Birds is the perfect blend of pop and pessimism. "Life is dull, life is grey/At its best it's just OK/But I'm happy to report/Life is also short" begins the sarcastically sublime "California," which invites the listener to hum along, even if the subject is quite morbid. Failed relationships, death, being "swallowed by the work machine," and pretty much every other ulcer-inducing worry is handled with neurotic finesse by singer/keyboardist Sam Coomes. He has one of indie-pop's most pleasant voices, and it is put to great use on songs like the acidic "The Poison Well" and the epic noise-fest "Sea Shanty." Coomes' downer outlook is balanced by Janet Weiss whose tight, no-nonsense drumming provides a welcome sense of stability. Featuring Birds acts as the couch in the shrink's office, giving Coomes free reign to exclaim such cheery thoughts as "We went through hell, just to get to hell," and "Drowned if you sink, condemned if you float"; even Walt Disney gets a sly, verbal kick in the pants on "It's Hard to Turn Me On." There has never been a better time for being a world-weary cynic than the late '90s, and no one does it better than Quasi. In fact, feeling bad never sounded so good. ~ Dale Nicholls, All Music Guide