Population 02 DC

Population 02

Watsonville Patio

Farren Music America, 1999

REVIEW BY: Duke Egbert

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: 10/18/2000

There's not a lot I can tell you about Watsonville Patio, asneither their personal website or the website of their record labelhave any information worth the pixels to display it. Thankfully, Idon't have to. It's enough you know California-based WatsonvillePatio has released their third CD, Population 02.

The band has an interesting sound. Imagine, if you will, 10,000Maniacs where Stevie Nicks had succeeded Natalie Merchant, andyou'd be close; it's a very folksy, comfortable sound, like a fadedflannel shirt or an easy chair you've managed to wear theproperly-shaped depression in. The sound washes over you, easy,digestible, not terribly challenging.

Watsonville Patio has built up its fan base by touring, and itshows; their music is seemingly designed to be performed live,guitar-heavy without too many frills or fripperies. Themusicianship is competent, but nothing reaches out and smacks youwith its concentrated greatness.

Indeed, it's hard to get smacked by anything at all on Population 02. The band's sound becomes homogenous to thepoint of hypnosis. There are some standout tracks - "PerfectCombination" is an intent, minor-keyed rocker that sounds like REMcrossed with the Cowboy Junkies; "First Stop Tucson" is a countrystomper that manages to sound bright and distinctive; and theharmonica-laced "Changed Your Mind" has a good beat and a coherent,strong sound.