Albums by this artist

What Is Not To Love (1999)

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Roddy Bottom talks to NATN:
Published November 19, 2000

Imperial Teen

What Is Not To Love

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» KATHARINE KELLY | STAFF WRITER

Imperial Teen What Is Not To Love Slash, 1999 RiYL: Beat Happening, Faith No More

Life would be so much better if everything could just be summed up in catchy little pop songs -- at least, that's what Imperial Teen's second release, What Is Not To Love, made me think.

All 11 of the tracks on this album call out for listening. They imprint their enticing rhythms on your eardrums and beg you to sing along. Even more sugary than 1996's Seasick, What Is Not To Love can make anything seem relatively alright. The beyond-catchy first single (also heard in the movie "Jawbreaker") "Yoo Hoo" tells a stalker-like tale, and yet the "She said yoo hoo" chorus makes the whole thing seem disturbingly fun. Meanwhile, songs such as "Birthday Girl" and "Lipstick" offer ambiguous, yet slightly more serious, messages over completely addictive guitar lines.

Whether rocking out or whispering seductively, the members of Imperial Teen know how to get into your brain. You can't exactly dance to most of What Is Not To Love, but you won't be able to stop your head from bobbing, and there's something about that motion that makes everything seem just a little bit better.

KATHARINE KELLY |