High Review

07/13/2005 6:27 AM, AMG


The lead single from Wish is a sparkling little number -- while not the strongest of the band's singles, it's still a nice love lyric and performance from the band all around. Gallup's bass is its instantly recognizable self, while the overall feeling is of a breezy spring romp, heightened by Smith's singing and quirky vocal overdubs. The extended band-created remix, as per usual, stretches out the song while not adding much different to it outside of some extra keyboards here and there. Two Wish outtakes appear as the other B-sides. "This Twilight Garden" actually sounds a little more like a Disintegration-era cut due to its general pace, but the combination of ringing guitars and keyboard tones has its own melancholy appeal, while Smith's echo-laden vocal turn is a darkly dreamy winner, especially on the chorus. "Play," meanwhile, is an effective companion piece to "This Twilight Garden," a slightly less distinct arrangement made up for by another performance of an excellent, mid-paced moodout. ~ Ned Raggett, All Music Guide