Artist: The Ocean Blue
Album: Waterworks EP
Label: Wassermusik
Tracks: 6
Length: 23:18
Review by: Mike “Jeepster” Leech

I love the 80's as much as the next guy, but am I the only one who thinks the joke is getting a little old?  Sure, it was a funny decade... sure, the fashions were ridiculous... sure, I remember Rubik's Cubes--but could everybody please quit trying to cash in on the poor era?  God bless bands like The Ocean Blue.  These guys have actually been around since the 80's and that being the case, they would have every right to stay frozen in its musical landscape, but they refuse to settle for cheap, marketable pulp.  Waterworks is the product of a constantly evolving band with the wisdom to know when enough is enough and the talent for concise songwriting that only comes with age.

"Fast Forward Reverse" opens this meaty EP with some nice sweeping strings and ambient twinkles--a seemingly awkward tone-setter for such an upbeat pop album.  After the same serene harmonics begin seeping their way into the hypnotic "Pedestrian" and the Velvet Underground-reminiscent "Golden Gate" however, it becomes clear that The Ocean Blue put just as much focus on their sounds as they do their songs.  This album is definitely worth busting out the headphones for.

"Ticket to Wyoming" is a catchy, summertime dittie with a strong Morrissey influence.  "Sunshower" is another Smiths-y jam with a peppier guitar lead and more danceable beat.  The synth drums, hand claps and doot doot doo's of "The Northern Jetstream" close the album on a hopeful note, without ever venturing into sappy territory.  This song is so mesmerizing that if could literally be twenty minutes longer and you might not even notice a change.

My hat's off to The Ocean Blue for writing some of the best songs of their career after almost twenty years on the job.