Lindy’s Party / Lindy's Party

The Bolshoi almost drown themselves in studio gloss with Lindy's Party. Since the band produced the album themselves, the commercial polish of the LP is baffling; given the creative freedom, one would predict the Bolshoi to head in the opposite direction. The Bolshoi aim for the dancefloor with "Auntie Jean," "Please," and "Can You Believe It". Of course, the Bolshoi have never been immune to the allure of discotheques; "A Way," for example, was remixed several times for the club circuit. However, Lindy's Party has an overall bigger sound that doesn't complement the Bolshoi, a group that only excels when they rein themselves in. The drums beat louder and more rapidly than before; there are too many synthesizers, too. Nevertheless, Lindy's Party shouldn't be completely dismissed by its excesses. The uncharacteristically spirited "T.V. Man" cleverly juxtaposes lyrical references to Clint Eastwood's Dirty Harry films with music from a western. "She Don't Know" is propelled by the moody jangle of early R.E.M., and "Swings and Roundabouts" has the ominous, swirling guitars of old Bolshoi. Even "Auntie Jean" and "Please," for all of their concessions to American radio, have decent hooks. In their live performances the Bolshoi were probably able to shed much of the fat from Lindy's Party.