Luna's 1992 debut (originally released under the short-lived band name
Luna 2 for contractual reasons) got most of its press due to
Dean Wareham's former position as leader of the critically adored
Galaxie 500, but his new cohorts
Justin Harwood (bass) and
Stanley Demeski (drums) were fresh from stints in
the Chills and
the Feelies, respectively. A rarity among albums by this type of
alt-rock supergroup,
Lunapark sounds like an appealing conglomeration of some of the best aspects of all three participants' former bands.
Wareham's familiar bored whine and slow-motion guitar create an interesting tension when juxtaposed with
Harwood's ultra-melodic bass and
Demeski's hyperactive drums, as if each member is still playing with his old band. The album spawned two
college radio hits, the deliciously depressive
"Slide" (with its memorable opening line "You can never give the finger to the blind") and the jittery, propulsive
"Slash Your Tires," but nearly all of the 12 songs have memorable guitar hooks, stick-in-your-head choruses, and a newfound sense of humor in
Wareham's deadpan lyrics. Lesser-known gems include the surprisingly poppy
"I Can't Wait" and the
Television-like tension of the closing
"We're Both Confused." Guests feature
Wareham's old label head
Kramer and
Mercury Rev co-leader
Grasshopper, who adds extra guitar to about a third of the album. ~ Stewart Mason
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![Either/Or [Orange Galaxy Vinyl] [Barnes & Noble Exclusive]](http://prodimage.images-bn.com/pimages/0634457166790_p0_v2_s90x140.jpg "Either/Or [Orange Galaxy Vinyl] [Barnes & Noble Exclusive]")
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