Rockbites: The Stereo release definitive power pop LP

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March 2001 • Rockbites Alternative Daily

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The Stereo release definitive power pop LP
7 March 2001

Jamie Woolford, founder and musical linchpin for Minneapolis/Austin power pop band The Stereo, announced in January that he and his band mates had amicably decided to go their separate ways. Woolford attributes differences in musical direction as the primary cause. He will continue alone as The Stereo, already working on the next album, while former members Jeremy Bergo, Jeremy Tappero (aka JT), and Erik along with new drummer Chip have formed a band called Attention; they plan to tour the US later this year.
    The Stereo’s second full length, No Traffic, hit stores yesterday on Florida-based Fueled By Ramen records. Woolford, typically a solo artist in the studio, composed, arranged, performed, recorded, and produced most of the LP himself.
    Woolford is in love with power pop, and unless your taste can encompass that style, marked by crunchy guitars, simplistic drumming, and highly melodic vocals, his new album won’t be your cup of tea. But on No Traffic he proves there’s a surprising amount of mileage left in that genre from the ’70s. Compared to music from Big Star, XTC, The Knack, Rockpile, and Rockpile’s central players Dave Edmunds and Nick Lowe, The Stereo bring a higher intensity while keeping the optimistic innocence and danceability you’d expect. I think Woolford might be a fan of Buzzcocks as well as of Rockpile.
    What makes No Traffic worthwhile is its timeless songwriting and shockingly heartfelt performance. Let down your guard just a bit and you’ll discover mutiple goosebump moments on this record. Three bites out of five, leaning toward four.

Rockbites ratings  5: life changing, 4: stunning, 3: captivating, 2: amusing, 1: annoying.

| The Stereo | | Fueled By Ramen | | power pop backgrounder on About.com | | discography | | CD | | top of page |

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