Theme Park

It would not be unfair to refer to the goofy, intermittently brilliant head Bandit, Duglas Stewart, as a Glaswegian Jonathan Richman... he's boyish, he's mopey, he has an irrepressible love for his music, and doesn't worry to much whether folks think it's too silly or not... But perhaps a comparison to Art Blakey would be equally apt. If you traced one of those who-was-in-which-band charts for the Glasgow scene, the last couple of decades would look like a spiderweb, inexorably leading back to the sinister clutches of the BMX Bandits. Members of the Soup Dragons, Teenage Fanclub, and even newbies from Belle and Sebastian have at one time or another entered the Bandits' hallowed ranks. Apparently, this is the only full Bandits album to be released domestically in the States -- and, sadly, the Big Deal label went under a little while back. The disc is still out there, though, and well worth tracking down... Plenty of charming nuggets are crammed into this naif-pop lovefest, including "Nuclear Summertime" and "One Big Heart," which are both delightfully goofy and cute. The Bandits are also capable of sweet, wistful pop ballads like the femme-voxed "I Want To Fall In Love," another winner on this disc. Guests and friends include Teen Fanclub's Norman Blake, and the Battlefield Band's trad fiddler, John McCusker. If you're willing to get onto the BMX wavelength, this is a very rewarding album.

The Bandits and KIm Fowley! Always a pleasure!