Search - Artichoke :: Evaporation

The Los Angeles New Times "Critic's Choice" June 20-26, 2002 "All heart: With their self-released disc "Evaporation," Artichoke has done the impossible: They've gorged themselves on the Pavement/Pixies diet of '80s and '90s indie rock and managed to regurgitate a sound that doesn't suck. Frontman Timothy Sellers sings/talks with a laid-back Steve Malkmus monotone, and some of the guitar outros could've been plucked from Trompe le Monde, but the inspired songwriting avoids any been-there-done-that pitfalls. "I try to write songs about stuff no one's written about yet," says Sellers. That stuff includes everything from the construction of Noah's Ark to his own band's demise and "geek rock epitaph." It's infectious indie pop throughout and though nearly an hour in length, the disc doesn't drag. A frequent request on KXLU 88.9FM, they had kids sitting cross-legged and transfixed at that station's recent Fundrazor show at the Knitting Factory. And now booker/curator Mike TV has made them a welcome fixture at his Launchpad East the last Tuesday of every month at Mr. T's Bowl." --Bob Powers