Garage Sale

On Garage Sale, Brittle Stars offer three new tracks, five rare songs, as well as seven remixed tracks from earlier in the quartet's career. Released in July 2001 on Shelflife Records, the disc was released as the band's swan song, released after the band had relocated from Florida to California. The quartet created intelligent and atmospheric indie pop in their brief career, and this release was an ambitious final effort. The restrained "Falling Backwards" opens the disc, followed by the bright and bubbly "Disorderlies." The original mix of "You Went in Phases," a highlight from their self-titled debut disc, is also included, as well as the hypnotic "Rumpshaker." "Instrumental" is a top-notch instrumental, easily comparable to some of the best indie instrumental bands, like Tristeza or Dianogah. "Souvenir" is an exquisite and graceful end to the first half of the disc. The disc ends with the remixes, including songs reworked by Scott Schultz of Majestic ("Tripping Me Up"), I Am the World Trade Center ("Four Words"), Masters of the Hemisphere ("Your Street Is Dark"), and Steward ("Falling Backwards"). While the album could have stood on its own with the first eight tracks, the seven remixes add a final reminder of the influence the band had on their musical peers. The band's keyboard-based pop, peppered with Estelle's subtle vocals, created quite a stir during their short tenure as a band. It adds the unique perspective of a band who called it quits while still on the top of their game.