Go Sailor - S/T LP (Watery Blue Vinyl)

Go Sailor - S/T LP (Slumberland/USA)

They Say:

Go Sailor were a great, short-lived band from the mid-90s who represent a key link in the US indie music chain. Featuring Rose Melberg (Tiger Trap, The Softies, Gaze, Brave Irene, Knife Pleats), Linton (Henry's Dress, The Aislers Set) and Paul Curran (Take A Day fanzine, Crimpshrine), they released three great singles and a few compilation tracks, and then went their separate ways. But what records they are! Basic and lovely in their song-writing, they're perfect snapshots of where indie-pop was during that last burst of pre-internet indie activity. Touching on time-honored themes of friendship and love (lost and found), they resonate with honesty and purity of intention.

While the themes might sound, dare we say, twee, the music is anything but. Rose's scrappy guitar was backed by Linton and Paul's sparkplug rhythm section, each song vibrating with enthusiasm and punk rock energy. Tunes like "I'm Still Crying," "Windy" and their ace cover of Nar's "Blue Sky" are as rambunctious and infectious as pop comes, showing the band's deep roots in the Bay Area punk scene. And the hits just keep on coming: "Ray of Sunshine" and "Long Distance" are total classics, while "Bigger Than The Ocean" slows the pace down for a couple's dance. Paul takes the lead on "The Boy Who Sailed Around The World," wrapping up this flawless record with one of the band's live favorites.

Go Sailor reunited in the early 2010s to play to enraptured crowds at the NYC and Athens Popfests, and their appearance at the Slumberland 20th Anniversary show was the stuff of legend. This album compiles all three of their singles plus compilation tracks and was first released on vinyl in 2011. Due to pressing plant issues it quickly went out of print and that's just not right, so we are very happy to bring you this 11th anniversary edition, back on vinyl where it belongs with a new insert featuring liner notes and lots of cool band pictures and ephemera.

We Say:

No proper review of this exact LP as I my pre-order number was cut in half so I am giving up my copy so a lucky customer will be able to purchase it. While I can't speak to the insert, I can say as a fan of the entire Rose Melberg catalog and especially the Go Sailor singles I do own from the mid '90s are the soundtrack to a perfect summer. Compiled all in one place along with some comp tracks and a new insert, this is the rare occasion when perfect pop somehow even get better. I am glad this version is on watery blue vinyl because these playful melodies dance like the surface of a refreshing swimming pool begging to be dived into and splashed about. North America's answer to Amelia Fletcher, fans of Heavenly-esque jangle with a bite and all things Sarah, K, and Slumberland should consider anything including Rose Melberg (a member of The Aislers Set for that matter), a must own. Honestly the only bummer about this record is that I don't have more to share!