The La's

When this was released in 1991, it seemed out of step with the effects-laden, dance-oriented sounds coming out of England at the time. But the La's love of stripped-down classic British guitar pop wouldn't go unnoticed in the following years. Songwriter Lee Mavers' obsessive, perfectionist nature also ensured it wouldn't be duplicated.

Blimey, another pop group with guitars--quartet from Liverpool, no less. Once in a blue moon, though, somebody with the gift comes along, and frontman Lee Mavers is that somebody. Given his spunky-to-grotty voice (think Colin Hay or early Cat Stevens--of Men at Work and "Matthew and Son" respectively, you uncultured dolts), they don't sound enough like the Beatles, and I hope that in a hit or two they find themselves a drummer they can tie to his or her chair, because too often the beat is vestigial (think Quarrymen). But don't look a gift genius in the adenoids--not until he turns into Billy Joel on you. (Grade - A-)