To dismiss the first album by L.A. girl band The Like as the product of mere nepotism -- band members Z. Berg (guitar/vocals), Charlotte Froom (bass) and Tennessee Thomas (drums) are the progeny of A&R man Tony Berg, producer Mitchell Froom and Attractions drummer Pete Thomas, respectively, while the album title winks at a hit by the equally gene-connected ‘60s teen-rock trio Dino, Desi and Billy – would be to miss one of the most assured and satisfying debuts in many a … mehryear. If anything, that music biz lineage has only steeped them in a rich, impressively eclectic range of influences. Deftly produced with an ear towards sonic depth and emotional complexity by former Prince bandmate Wendy Melvoin, the ethos here is considerably more intriguing than cliched, jangly West Coast Bangles guitar pop. Though barely out of high school, the trio instead dishes up elegiac, shimmering gems like "We Are Lost," and "The One" with wistful weariness, while injecting more indie-spirited songs like the hook-rich "Bridge to Nowhere," "Mrs. Actually" and the thumping openers "June Gloom" and "What I Say.." with inflections of everything from The Pretenders to more contemporary UK acts like Ride and The Sundays. Berg's voice is a marvel of mature, expressive restraint that belies her tender age, while the rhythm section of Froom and Thomas power it all with inventive, airtight chops throughout. --Jerry McCulley weniger

CD 1
01 - June Gloom
02 - What I Say And What I Mean
03 - You Bring Me Down
04 - (So I'll Sit Here) Waiting… mehr
05 - Bridge To Nowhere
06 - Once Things Look Up
07 - Under The Paving Stones
08 - Too Late
09 - We Are Lost
10 - The One
11 - Mrs. Actually
12 - Falling Away
13 - Waves That Never Break
14 - What I Say And What I Mean weniger