The Tufts Daily Online

Band:Semi-Gloss

Album:Teenie EP

Hometown:New York City, New York

Funded By:Dirt Records

The Scoop:So these New Yawk kids groove to the Velvets, find a singer with decent schtick, and surprise people around the City at opening spots.

Sentence Required (by the State) in every Review:Blending Jonathan Richman-patented post-Velvet junk guitars with the sugar-sweet vocals of exotic singer Verena, Semi-Gloss serve up six songs, promising a bright future.

Sure to be Compared to:Modern Lovers, Stereolab

Should also be Compared to:Raincoats, Joni Mitchell

Favorite Press Kit Quote:"Fronted by a lead singer named Verena, a Swiss/French/Chinese chanteuse with deep-as-Sartre, French-inflected vocals, who performs in straight-out-of-Paris-in-the-'50s dinner gowns..."

Reason for Tuning In:Especially with the guitar-oriented, louder songs, the quartet discover some irresistibly cheery moments.

Real Reason for Tuning In:Modern Lovers-influence

Reason for Tuning Out:They borrow Richman's guitar-work but skimp on his true brilliance, the vocals; this "dinner gown" attire seems a touch contrived.

Reason for Review:That whole "Swiss/French/Chinese" female thing takes care of the whole diversity issue -- now we can get on with writing about white, male, Judeo-Christian guitar rockers.

Record will sell platinum if...MTV digs this dinner gown schtick.

Stars:Andromeda, the Sun