June Of 44 – Tropics And Meridians

Jeff Mueller's lyrics are obscure, precise exercises In the arcane In the backyard/one knee/with a sickness/on me (Anisette). Doing a complete 360 from ex-Rodan newly formed Rachel's (softly beautiful library rock) this quartet is without a doubt the new flagship of the indie rock world. Muscular, taut, and punchy gut rock that twists and turns all over the place seemingly effortless never losing a beat to melodic appeal. What these guys can and will do in the next four years before the turn of the century will change music forever and bring it back to where it lives - nowhere and everywhere at the same time.

A lot more melodic than their first album "Engine Takes To The Water -" these six songs - mostly instrumental mood pieces - blueprint the chime and scree build it break it formula to match the color of the sky just when you thought there'd never be another band to come along and sweep you away.

There is the branded wood box version and that is on clear wax.

The custom stamps are definitely one of the best LP inserts ever and have spawned a naval-themed tattoo subculture. Although my copy came with them I believe there were later vinyl pressings that did not come with the stamps. Can anyone confirm this? Should those editions be differentiated here?