Discography
Ameroafriasiana (1997)
Limited Edition Tin (1995)
12 Before 9 (1995)
Fall On Your World (1992)
All The Flowers Growing in Your Mother's Eyes (1990)

 

  Grace Hotel
  Overall rating: 

Album Reviews

The Throes are another one of a seemingly endless parade of pop groups who have been playing on my CD player lately. Over the last couple of months I've managed to snag a lot of stuff on sale, and The Throes were one of those bands who I'd heard good things about, but had never heard. So as I was rummaging through the discount bin the other day I stumbled on Ameroafrianasiana and figured for the couple of bucks it was worth a try.

This is a solid album with good performances and pretty good tunes. I like it, and will probably play this once in a while. It does suffer from sounding like a lot of what is out there already, but heck there are only so many chords to choose from. A band that cites The Choir, 77's and members of The Lifesavers and Daniel Amos can't be all bad - and they aren't.

Possibly if I hadn't been deluged with so much "new" stuff lately this wouldn't have been buried in the pile. Bottom line: It didn't blow me away - but it's not like dragging fingernails down a chalkboard either.

PS The title song features what is quite possibly the longest reverberated ending in pop music.

~ Jevon

  Much of the rabid following the Throes had amassed with their near-flawless debut had abandoned them by the time their final album, Ameroafriasiana, was released. It's no wonder: The Throes' relentless touring and less-than-spectacular albums had served to over-saturate their audience with mediocre material. Those who remained found a second triumph in Ameroafriasiana. It's hard not to attribute the success of the record to the return of Harold Evans, but Campbell for his part seems more focused than he has in years. Even the band's psychedelic impulses are grounded in melody. "Understanding" opens into a gigantic, gorgeous chorus, "Grieve" is driven by a sinister, snaking guitar line, and the galloping love song "Satiable" glows with optimism and satisfaction. Only the plodding, repetitive "Slip" is an outright disaster. The rest of the record couples the winsome charm of All The Flowers Growing in Your Mother's Eyes with a maturity and wisdom earned through innumerable hard years. That it served to be the Throes' swan song is both tragic and oddly fitting -- a graceful note on which to end a turbulent career.
 

~ J. Edward Keyes