As has been noted in nearly every published review of this CD, and as even a superficial listen to it bears out, Elastica was influenced by Wire. To complain about this, however, is like complaining that The Rolling Stones were influenced by Chuck Berry, that Interpol were influenced by Joy Division, or that REM were influenced by The Velvet Underground, The Byrds, and Big Star. Music is a continuum, an evolving dialog with listeners. That Elastica use Wire as a starting point is perfectly fine with me! Our heroine's troubles with heroin meant that her muse was killed as quickly as it came, but she left behind a very nice monument to the sounds of agitated punk girl group rock - circa mid 1990s (now approaching two decades old). No, it's not groundbreaking or original, but it is good. If any of the foregoing review interests you, check this CD out. If not, you'll survive if you pass it by.

It can be tough to pick favorite things. I don't have any trouble at all identifying this album as -- by far -- the greatest I have ever heard. It is so far above every other album that I will shocked if I ever hear its equal.

Some of the songs -- "Connection", "Stutter", and "Waking Up" come to mind -- are instant classics, and others, like "Line Up" and "Annie", grow on you quickly. What ties all the songs together is the perfection of the art of pop-rock (with just a hint of punk). From the opening chords, Donna (resident guitar goddess) grabs you by the throat with her simple but precise playing, and Justine Frischmann makes you fall in love with her when she delivers the vocals on "Never Here" with the perfect mix of affection, bitterness, and seduction.

Please don't think I'm letting hyperbole get the best of me; it's impossible to say enough good things about this album. The songs are short but very sweet, and each one is excellent; there's so much parity -- albeit at a very high level -- that I'm reluctant to name any standouts, but my favorites are:

"Stutter", probably my single favorite song; "Connection", which you've probably heard and which gives a decent idea of what the record sounds like; and "Hold Me Now", which is a slower, stacatto piece that showcases Justine's talent as a vocalist and lyricist.

Elastica isn't easily compared to other bands, but their primary inspiration is British pop and punk, and they're a little like a poppier Veruca Salt with an attitude, or a more polished Sleater-Kinney with prettier vocals and less anger. If you've given this album enough consideration that you're reading this review, you'll be doing yourself an injustice if you don't get it.

Elastica's song Connections was featured rather prominently in a couple of episodes of the short-lived television series My So-Called Life, and I was so enamored with this song that I bought Elastica's album. I thought it was pretty good music at the time; about a year ago, I decided to listen to the CD for the first time in several years - I hated it; I couldn't even get halfway through the album. Today, I decided to give the CD another try, and some of the old magic must have been in the air because suddenly I was impressed once again. Who knows what I will think next time? I think my unpredictable reaction to this music is, in large part, due to the fact that I haven't roamed through the musical landscape in which it dwells - I'm not even sure if this particular album falls under old wave or new wave music. I would say there is a strong punk influence here, but I may be wrong because I've never even come close to going through a punk phase. In any event, Elastica's sound is strong, raw, unadorned, and unrestrained; to my ears, it sounds like this band is rocking out in a neighbor's garage - this is a good thing, by the way. Elastica didn't worry about impressing listeners with a bunch of fancy, fake musical shenanigans. The tracks are all relatively short (the entire album of 16 songs has a running time of only 40 minutes) - it's as if the energy could only sustain its maximum effect for so long, and Elastica refused to sacrifice an ounce of musical integrity by padding the songs with the least bit of musical filler.

Elastica never came close to recapturing the magic of this album, but this Britpop group did leave its mark on 90s music. Today, more than ever, their music is a refreshing breath of fresh air rising above the general miasma of 90s rock. Besides Connected, there is great rocking to be found on tracks such as Annie, Waking Up, All Nighter, Vaseline, and several others. Stutter, a song about a boyfriend's little "performance" problem features a gripping tempo and some of Frischmann's most passionate vocals. Hold Me Now has something of an electronic feel to it - Justine Frischmann's voice never seems to wander far from the same note, giving this tune an ethereal quality that increases its impact on the listener. 2:1 is a wonderful song, with Frischmann's vocals taking on something of a haunting quality contrasted against the more artificial sound of the backing vocals. Never Here describes how love at first sight can quickly turn into something fleeting and forgettable; at almost four and a half minutes, this song stands out in both quantity and quality.

This isn't an album I listen to very often, but it does have a timeless appeal and unique energy to it that can connect quite strongly with the listener. I'm hard pressed to explain why I reacted so negatively to this album a year ago. I think it may come down to the fact that Elastica just isn't like all the other groups out there on the music scene; it's hard to grow complacent with this band's unusual style and presentation. I can love it one day and find myself hating it the next. The music is bound to stir up something different inside you every time you listen to it, though, and that in itself is something rare enough to be appreciated.

This album has become an essential staple in my Cd player since i was lucky enough to find it at a local store.

Its sixteen, relatively short songs, are energy bursts full of spunk and punky magnificence.

Such songs as the most popular, "Stutter" and "Connection", "Car Song", "Waking Up" and "2:1" are filled the catchiness and wittiness to keep you coming back for more.

Quite Reccomended.

My music collection is nearing 200 CDs and this is literally the best one I own. There are no bad songs on the album, and the closest I can come to a complaint is that most of the songs are very short. The band recognizes that most great pop songs are quite short, and the music on this album definitely has a strong element of pop to it, although it would be a mistake to call them a pop band and ignore the element of rock that runs throughout. This British group's debut album relies on simple, old tricks, but makes them work fabulously well. The strongest tracks on the album are those with a heavy, definitive beat and which emphasize lead singer Justine Frischmann's voice ("Connection", "Hold Me Now", "Never Here"), while fancy guitar-work makes "Car Song", "S.O.F.T.", and "Waking Up" well worth the listen. Each song is a success, though "Connection", "Hold Me Now", "Waking Up", and "Stutter" are the best, while "Vaseline", the minute-and-a-quarter closer, is a little weaker, though by no means an unpleasant listen. I recommend this album with my heart and soul.