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It's a Shame About Ray

The Lemonheads - It's a Shame About Ray Audio CD

A fair review of the The Lemonheads "It's a Shame About Ray" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all The Lemonheads reviews here, or go back to the The Lemonheads tabs.

Band: The Lemonheads
Title: It's a Shame About Ray
Rating:

Release Date: 1992-11-10
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Rockin Stroll 2: Confetti 3: It's a Shame About Ray 4: Rudderless 5: My Drug Buddy 6: Turnpike Down 7: Bit Part 8: Alison's Starting to Happen 9: Hannah & Gabi 10: Kitchen 11: Ceiling Fan in My Spoon 12: Frank Mills 13: Mrs. Robinson

The Reason People Still Think Evan Dando Matters
Getting the Lick tape (twice since the first time, it wasn't recorded properly), I can still remember thinking how the lead track (Mallo Cup) sounded like REM on acid. I discovered the Lemonheads in 1989 when the Luka video came out. A little while later, I got Lovey, and I was not quite understanding it at points (what's with all of this country in a punk alternative world), but totally being immersed in it at other parts. As time went by, I got more and more connected to it and some of the earlier singles, so when It's a Shame About Ray came out, I rushed to the CD store to buy it (plunking down twice the price as I was in the UK at the time). When I think back to the first time I heard it, I can only think of 2 other albums that moved me as much upon initial listen (Neutral Milk Hotel's Aeroplane Over the Sea + Son Volt's Trace). I knew this was one of those albums that would live on. While some albums grow on us, others come to find us. This was the kind of album that was always with you and never lost you; in addition, it could comfort you at times and make you realize how special it was. Of the 12 tracks on the original (I don't count the after the fact addition of Mrs. Robinson as part of this record - I found it on the single, and that's where it remains - still good, just not this record), I can think of 9 of them holding a special place on mix tapes of that day and today while the other 3 (Rockin Stroll, Kitchen, Ceiling Fan), cemented the album together perfectly. I don't know if I could say that there is a best song on this album. I know I couldn't live without the songs of that day. In seeing this album live several times (the first time at the Norwich Waterfront in 92 is 1 of the top 5 shows my nearly 38 year old self has ever seen), I grew to love the live versions of the follow up album (though not their CD representations in all cases). I came to acquire all things Evan (and by rights, Juliana, too). Then, Car Button Cloth came out and something was lost. I'm not sure what, but it wasn't there. As time went by, I rediscovered some of the appreciation I had for Evan (even if only by listening to Smudge and selected stuff Evan), but it never felt the same. I've seen Evan three times in the 2000's and none have been great. The drugs took too much effect, and even if there are still great songs (Hard Drive), it's like watching a friend go on and supporting them despite the fact that the best days are gone. Frankly, that's the nicer way of saying, this guy can't remember the lyrics anymore (I've heard the same of Juliana). Nevertheless, this album was a point in my musical history, and for what it is, not for what Evan became, it is a great place to go back to and feel the way I did riding the train home from Cambridge all of those years ago as the lyrics segued perfectly ("Got me watching your eyes watching things go by outside Out the window of a train Easy sipping them just seeing it fly left to right Pour the milk and Ill say when"). Easily in my top 5 CDs of all time. .

Best Effort From The Lemonheads - And Of The 90s
Up there with Weezer's first release ("Weezer"-Blue Album) and the Gin Blossoms' "New Miserable Experience. One of the greatest albums of the 90s. ".

An Alltime Favorite
It's not like I'm a huge Lemonheads fan or anything, but this album is stellar. This is one of the best albums ever produced if you ask me. Even though it's not a sprawling album, in fact I think it comes in at under forty minutes, each minute is worth listening to. I think it's because every song,even if they're not supposed to be, makes you happy. They may even want to make you dance, and I hate dancing. My particular favorites would have to be "Rudderless", "The Turnpike Down", "Hannah and Gabi", and the amazing title track, "It's a Shame About Ray". If you want to listen to something that will make you feel good, listen to this. Oh yeah, there's also a cool cover of "Mrs. Robinson" on this as well. Check it out.

It's A Shame There Aren't More As FUN As This by The Lemonheads
Believe me This isn't sour candy. . "It's A Shame About Ray," was The Lemonheads fifth and best release (June 1992), their Breakthrough Album! It seems like in the early '90s after the metoric success & impact of Nirvana's: Nevermind, that there was a lot of alternative music suddenly gaining the attention that it deserved. A lot of late '80s "alternative" music wasn't heard by most of the mainstream public(bands like The Pixies or Husker Du). By 1992 Alternative was everywhere in Rock, on the radio and all over MTV (back when the channel played more music than TV shows). This is one my favorites from those days.
The Lemonheads at one point were labeled "bubblegrunge" with the sweet harmonic vocals of Evan Dando and Julianna Hatfield (although she should sing more). A fabulous mellow, folky kind of Rockin' sound and this re-release closing track includes a cover of Simon & Garfunkel's: "Mrs. Robinson" - which is a really good faster version compared to the original. Also it was a song in heavy rotation at MTV and all over the radio igniting album sales.
The title track is my favorite song, but all of them are great, catchy and just downright FUN! Other favorites of mine include: "Confetti". . . He kinda shoulda sorta would have loved her if he coulda. . . (what a catchy rhymin' tune) "Rudderless" - "Buddy" (or "My Drug Buddy") - "Allison's Starting To Happen" - "Kitchen"(ooooooh,ba ba badoooooo) - & "Ceiling Fan in my Spoon. " -Yes Happy tunes! The only downside to this album is that it's only 33 minutes, and really The Lemonheads only REALLY GOOD album - 5 stars.

This CD ROCKS, buy it!
The chords that they use on some of their songs are awesome. What can I say about the Lemonheads, they're one of the best bands I have ever heard. Hannah and Gabi is a hard song to play, but I couldn't imagine making that song up out of thin air. I think this cd is among the best EVER. Just listen to the songs, every single one of them I would listen to for the rest of eternity.

You can see a complete list of all The Lemonheads discography, or go back to the The Lemonheads tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.