Like a Daydream

I heard Ride's "Nowhere" this month and knew right away I'd found my missing link to Blur's "Leisure" and Galaxie 500 and Sloan and all these great shoegazer/stoner groups, but then I ordered this EP and realized the true treasures of the group were their first two 4-song EPs, "Ride" and "Play," both from 1990. This CD of all eight songs really lifts you off the ground with noise, melody and artful bombast. Youthful indescretion finds its perfectly complimentary guitar noise. If the muddled beauty of "Close My Eyes" doesn't get you, I don't know what will. The opening lyrics: Last night I had such a good time/but there's a price to pay/ A night full of kicks, now the sun's in my eyes/And I feel so weary today... Listen, believe, smile.