By Paul Iiams
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Thursday October 10, 2002
Goldfish
Ah, the memories of middle-school band practice. The squeaking of horns and the misplaying of nearly every other instrument. Unfortunately, these memories resurface in Goldfish, the second solo album from Karla Schickele.
The album moves back and forth from an amateurish "Let's see what noise I can make with this instrument," to a sound that can best be described as a garage band that recorded their album in a tin shed.
The album does have one positive point, however. Schickele's voice is haunting and wonderful. It's just too bad that the music isn't good enough to keep up with her.
It is also too bad that it doesn't know when to stop.
The first song on the album, a ballad titled "Ballad," is probably the best in terms of overall quality. But even it doesn't quite live up to expectations with a bizarre ending that lasts nearly two minutes. Two minutes may not seem like a long time, but with an album that runs just over 30 minutes for 10 tracks, it is an eternity.
Continually through the album, it seems as if the members of the band, both former members of The Malarkies, are trying new instruments for the first time.
It is possible that when played live, Goldfish will find itself and come out with a more polished sound. But, if the album is any indication, the chances are slim.
