The Beatifics - How I Learned to Stop Worrying - 1996

Lyrically bitter but musically sweet, How I Learned to Stop Worrying demonstrates the Beatifics' ability to mask their often heartbreaking tales with sunny pop melodies in the style of Matthew Sweet and the Velvet Crush. Anchored by a steadily drummed beat, "Almost Something There" immediately sets the album's tone with its jangling tones and aching vocals, while "This Year's Jessica" creates a hybrid of early-Beatles' pop sheen and the Replacements' raw, disheveled rock. With its handclaps and angelic harmonies, the '60s-flavored "Happy to Be Sad" would not sound out of place on the soundtrack for That Thing You Do. The Beatifics don't really break any new ground here, but few bands sound as good recycling their influences as this quartet does on tracks like "Something/Anything?" and "Crazy Lovesick Heart." A consistently satisfying debut, How I Learned to Stop Worrying provides no reason to believe that the Beatifics can't become one of the truly memorable power-pop bands of the '90s and beyond. -AMG

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