By
Phil Leckman
The Arizona Daily Wildcat
Zero Zero
AM Gold
(Jade Tree)
Grade: B
Here's a news flash - right this very minute, you are being cruelly deprived of hours of potential musical pleasure. This may seem incredible, but it's true. Unless you're a UFO conspiracy theorist, a sports nut or a big fan of Mexican polka music, the entire AM spectrum - including uncounted dozens of stations - is probably completely devoid of musical appeal. But this wasn't always the case. Long before Jim Rose and tuba-and-clarinet ensembles ruled the air, AM was a musical treasure trove, chock full of easy-on-the-ears soul, funk and light rock.
AM Gold, Zero Zero's aptly titled debut, is a brave attempt to channel those lost golden years. This may seem strange at first, since two-thirds of the band, including principal vocalist Ari Katz, were members of Lifetime, one of the East Coast's most blazing and emotional hardcore punk combos. But little or nothing of Lifetime's fury remains here - Zero Zero plays music for a day at the beach, not a night in the mosh pit. Psychedelic keyboards and guitars reminiscent of Stereolab or Yo La Tengo and funky, programmed beats take center stage, bolstered by occasional samples and the off-kilter vocals of Katz and co-vocalist. This formula generally works - tracks like "Beyond Zero" and "AM Gold" blend light, breezy arrangements with Katz's thoughtful, easy-going vocals for a result that's sweet and fluffy but still satisfying, like a Snow-cone on an Arizona summer day.
