The Lemonheads are back withCar button cloth , their newest album since Come On Feel the Lemonheads in 1993. It was set for release on Oct. 15 in stores everywhere. Their Fall '96 tour kicks off Oct. 24 in Danbury, Connecticut and goes through November 30 in New York, New York. Keep an eye out because the Lemonheads hit Phoenix on Nov. 20 at Gibson's.

Evan Dando, who formed the band while in high school back in 1986, is the lead singer and guitarist for the band. Their first self-released album was Laughing All the Way to the Cleaners in the summer of 1986. Since then, Lemonheads have been putting out albums, singles, songbooks, and videos. The big breakthrough came with their last two albums Come on Feel the Lemonheads and It's a Shame About Ray both went gold. The band has gone through many configurations, leaving Dando as the only original member of the Lemonheads.

Dando is joined on the drums by Patrick Murphy (previously of Dinosaur Jr.) Bill Gibson, on guitar and bass (of two of Australia's best '80s punk bands, Eastern Dark and the New Christs). In addition, special guests Dina Waxman (previously of Three and Yuichi), is also part of this team backing with vocals and bass. Finally, John Strohm, originally as the seventh, 10th, 13th drummer for Lemonheads, is now back as a guitarist.

Car button cloth features a fresh line up of music. No two songs are the same. The sounds range from rock to soul, all mixed and sprinkled with unique and random lyrics, such as "... I don't get bored watchin' the tube and I never had a rock in my shoe..." Songwriters Eugene Kelly and Tom Morgan collaborated with Dando on this album.

With his fame on the rise, Dando appeared on MTV Modern Rock Live and joined Tony Bennet in a duet on MTV Unplugged. He has also co-starred in the film "Upstate Story" where he performed two songs. Earning awards at the Cannes and Sundance film festivals, Dando landed a small role in "Heavy," the new film with Liv Tyler that opened in the United States on July 13. The Lemonheads are currently working on a new album expected out early August of 1997.

I must say, I didn't know what to expect from the Lemonheads' new album. So, I decided to check out some of their past albums to compare. Throughout the years, I could tell how their unique style developed. Their earlier album Creator (1988) had more of a punk rock focus unlike It's a shame about Ray with the addition of a female vocalist. Car button cloth brings out a more mature and defined sound. The tunes and lyrics were so catchy that I found myself humming them between classes. There's nothing sour about these Lemonheads.

---

Daily Wildcat News Opinions Sports PoliceBeat Comics Arts