---

I’m conflicted as I sit down to write my thoughts about the new Quips record, Take Two. In one sense, there is absolutely nothing wrong with this record. Everything seems in its right place and all the songs move through the paces of largely mid-tempo rockers with a fair sense of musicianship.

So what’s missing?

The Quips seem stuck somewhere between garage-rock and a more mainstream “rock” outfit. Most of the tracks are low-slung rockers where a stronger sense of melody could’ve pushed it into better territory. Tracks like “Strange Man” and “Alexander Hamiltion” are pretty, but seem in need of a hook to pull it out of the mire. These could be superior songs, but in this record’s incarnation they feel lacking – needing something to distinguish themselves from the myriad of bands across the country playing these kinds of songs in this kind of style.

Overall, The Quips suffer from sounding all-too-familiar. Most of the album comes across as done-before, and the notable moments are too few and far between to make the album stand out. Much of the album seems to flow together, but not in a good way: one non-descript track flowing into the other.

“Lady Powerline” is perhaps the album’s best track, mainly because it showcases the Quip’s best attempt at mid-nineties garage rock. Had this song appeared in the aforementioned time slot, I find it hard to imagine that it would not be a hit. It has a laconic, yet sing-able chorus, a touch of distortion and a sense of melody the other tracks don’t quite achieve. With that said, it’s 2007 and this style has seen its heyday come and go. “Over the Top” shakes off the slow-burn doldrums found on most of the record and breathes a little life into the album’s second half.

Here’s hoping future takes from The Quips find them discovering their sound with a more focused sense of purpose.

---

Reviewer: Will Joines Added: October 9th 2007