Ambulance LTD
LP

(TVT)

First Appeared in The Music Box, August 2004, Volume 11, #8

Written by T.J. Simon

Generally speaking, the music contained on LP, the unimaginatively titled debut by New York foursome Ambulance LTD, recalls the non-threatening Brit-pop of ’90s acts such as Oasis, Suede, or Blur. Still, the most unique aspect of the album is the band’s adeptness at shifting gears among a variety of differing styles within the pop-rock spectrum. On Anecdote, the best cut on this musical tossed-salad, lead singer and songwriter Marcus Congleton effectively conjures the sound of London’s Badly Drawn Boy, while the jaunty, California pop of Stay Tuned just as easily could have been recorded by The Thrills or The Wondermints. Elsewhere, Yoga Means Union is a nifty little guitar pop instrumental whereas Sugar Pill is a taste of ’60s psychedelic rock.

Although there isn’t a bad song on LP, several of its tunes, such as Michigan or Ophelia, will fail to excite most listeners, and the concluding "hidden" track is merely a mediocre cover of Lou Reed’s The Ocean. That said, the eclectic nature of Ambulance LTD’s style means that nearly every listener is sure to find something to enjoy. Yet, when viewing the collection as a singular body of work, the band’s all-things-to-all-people approach ultimately comes at the cost of cohesiveness and continuity. ½

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Ratings

1 Star:   Pitiful
2 Stars: Listenable
3 Stars: Respectable
4 Stars: Excellent
5 Stars: Can't Live Without It!!

Copyright © 2004 The Music Box