Timothy P. from SAN FRANCISCO, CA Reviewed on 3/4/2011...
Great CD. I personally liked their previous CD better (The dream that stuff that dreams was made of) better, but this is a good follow-up.
CD Reviews
Best pain ever
Meds | California, USA | 08/05/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I was amazed by the album. The sounds were so different from what I was used to. I first heard "Brass Digger" on a complication CD, and I expected more songs like it on "Built on Squares." Well, it turns out their usual sound is not much like "Brass Digger." It's better. It all works in a wonderful discordant way. My favorites are "Black Cat," "Goldstar," and "Irene."
This is one of the two CDs that regularily hijacks my creativity. It's impossible to disengage my mind from it. I have no choice but to sit and listen in awe."
New and Improved Music
Meds | 12/09/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I hardly know where to begin on this review. My 18-year old daughter brought home the cd after hearing them in concert as an opening act for the Flaming Lips. I was immediately taken with it and them and found myself compelled to play it over and over. Partly because it was so good and partly because I couldn't get over how innovative and different it was. "Built On Squares" has made it difficult to go back to straight pop songs with straight lyrics, for I am inexplicably drawn to their quirky and contagious sounds.
I will have to go out and buy my own copy because I am tired of waiting my turn to borrow hers. And I am going to have to buy several copies because I keep thinking of friends who would love this but might not hear about it through their regular sources. I am even sending one to a friend in France. We have the advantage of having them be from our area, although that doesn't mean they play here often. I'd not even heard of them until recently. And now I can't get them out of my head.
I don't know the names of all the songs to write in much detail, but "Pages" is one of my favorites. I always have to get up and move when it comes on. Now I have to go out and buy their first cd and I look forward to seeing what else they come up with. A great band, with an outstanding cd and a potentially phenomenal future.
UPDATE - Still listening to this cd as of April 2006. After buying several copies for friends, I did give one to my French friend when visiting him last month in Paris. He and his amis loved it as well and played it constantly during my visit. (And I'd brought them 5 new cd's.) Just to put it in perspective, every year I choose one upbeat, remarkable, innovative cd to buy in bulk and give away as gifts to family and friends that might not otherwise glom onto its existence. This was the give-away cd of that year.
Looking forward to their newest cd and their continuted success.
BigSis26
"
CAUTION, MAY BE HABIT-FORMING
seurchin2 | north of TX | 07/16/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Holy Shazam, I absolutely cannot stop listening to this one. I find it is especially useful when stalled in rush hour traffic, or when it seems that everyone around you wants to run you off the road, give you the finger, weave you into a tail-spin, the music masks the madness causing you to involuntarily hop, bop, smile, sing, and even has been known to give fits of euphoric seizures. This is the musical equivalent to heroin, it's highly addictive. This is the kind of rare CD where one needn't skip to the better song, every one is great. If you're still mourning the passing of the pixies, why don't you try the mints? A true masterpiece."
What's with these oddball bands from Oklahoma?
seurchin2 | 05/27/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"There must be something in the water in central Oklahoma. How else could a state that's at the buckle of the bible belt produce a band that writes such delightfully quirky music? These guys get compared to the Flaming Lips a lot, but the only real comparison is that they're both from Oklahoma and they're both kooky. If you like the Lips you'll like the Mints, but their music has its own uniqueness. Call it a mix of Pavement, the Pixies, and Saturday morning cartoon music, it's just too hard to categorize. The songs are wierd but melodic and fun. A far cry from most music being made these days. The fourth track, Pages, is so catchy it should be a single, but is probably too good to get any real radio airplay. The songs that don't grab your attention right away have a way of growing on you. The album is so complicated yet fun you will find yourself listening to it 2-3 times a day and liking it more with each listen. This is a must buy for any independent music lover."
Really good...and different
Sandy DeSantis | Bolton Landing, NY, USA | 12/08/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This albums is not for everyone. It's certainly not very straightforward. It's got a mix of skittish beats, electronic blips, and acoustic rock. Refreshing, and very catchy after a few listens. Highlights are "Irene," "Goldstar," "Zillion Eyes," and "Brass Digger." You really won't find too many artists out there that are similar to the Starlight Mints. But make no mistake, the music is great. If you're looking for an artist to compare it to, I'd say the Mints are most similar to Beck circa '96, without the hip-hop influence."