Music Review

Stands for deciBels/Repercussion (2002)

The dB's
Reviewed by Rob Brunner | Feb 08, 2002
EW's GRADE
A-

Details Release Date: Jan 08, 2002; Lead Performance: The dB's

Like a fidgety Big Star, this North Carolina-by-way-of-Manhattan cult band sets teen-angst themes to an adult pop sound, mixing new-wave nervous energy with surprisingly sophisticated songcraft. Their 1981 debut, Stands for deciBels, is a near-perfect album, with co-singer-songwriters Chris Stamey and Peter Holsapple turning in such mini-masterpieces as ''I'm In Love'' and ''Tearjerkin''' (Stamey) and ''Black and White'' and ''Big Brown Eyes'' (Holsapple). The 1982 follow-up, Repercussion, is more refined but less fun; its charms can be cheaply appreciated on this welcome single-CD set of both albums.

Originally posted Feb 08, 2002 Published in issue #638 Feb 08, 2002 Order article reprints

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