Smile Brigade

Smile Brigade is a Blue collared Democracy. They have been making things happen all along the west coast for decades now. The music is a refreshing mixture of light and dark shades. Calvin Johnson (Beat Happening, K records, Dub narcotic sound-system) guest-sings on "DYCHO?" track "Rims on The Bus" adding "little baby christ die" as a logical lyrical improv to a track that, in a very elementary way, takes on difficult adult themes such as a human's thirst for oil, sending children to war and inflating gas prices. As a whole, the album is not overtly political but lyrically provokes thought from those with a thirst for true blood. "Do You Come Here Often?" has a lushness and familiarity that belies the simplicity and originality of the compositions. It draws from influences as disparate as John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band all the way down the line to Magnetic Fields with a vigorous dash of 60z "beat" groups for good measure.