Peel

The first three Coctails albums were raw, fun home recordings made in the relative isolation of the band's Kansas City home. This record, however, was released after the Coctails moved to Chicago and immersed themselves in the local jazz and college rock scene. Perhaps this geographical change accounts for the shift from the frenzied experimentalism of their earlier records to the taut melodicism of Peel. The reeds, clarinets, and vibraphones are gone, replaced with a surprisingly straightforward guitar-based sound. The result is a record of surprising quality, especially for one so wholly different from the band's previous work. The shift from "novelty" band (distributing dolls of group members and recording a children's record) to serious college rock poster boys is so complete, it's hard to imagine they recorded "Jobless" and "Wicked Ways" at all, let alone in the same two-year period. But while this record lacks the carefree, informal vibe of their early material, it does boast some exceptional songwriting as John Upturch, Barry Phillips, and Archer Prewitt all turn in delicious hook-laden gems. The band's constant swapping of instrumental and vocal duties gives the record a varied, complex feel while saving it from monotony. Thus, the quiet strumming of "Weather King" is placed adjacent to the jangling immediacy of "2000," and the album's instrumentals serve as fine palate cleansers between pop songs. A consistent listen from top to bottom, Peel brims with polished talent, making it among the most vital recordings of Chicago's early-'90s underground scene.