The Makes Nice

Candy Wrapper and Twelve Other Songs (Frenetic)

By Alyson Mead
Published: June 11th, 2007 | 10:31pm

Anyone who remembers Josh Smith’s work with the Fucking Champs knows that he doesn’t much care what you think. So imagine our surprise when his new band, The Makes Nice, echoes every mother’s exhortation as she shoves her half-bawling child out onto the playground.

To dismiss the Makes Nice as Smith’s attempt to, well, make nice, would be a crying shame. It’s clear he likes his guitars heavy, and his drums heavier. But the Makes Nice reminds me of listening to AM radio in my mom’s old Mustang, drinking a Slurpee, and swinging my legs in time. I can hear strains of the Lemon Pipers and the Monkees when the songs are delicately crafted pop masterpieces (hey, many of the Monkees’ songs were written by the best Brill Building songsters), and hunks of Sonics-style guitarage when the songs go up-tempo.

"Candy Wrapper" brings to mind Squeeze’s Glen Tilbrook, with its crafty lyrics and infectious hooks.There’s something about the plaintive quality of his voice, opening to show us another facet, that lets us know we’re on to something more than another retro exercise. "Nothing Left to Day" gets me right in the sonic breadbasket, serving up soaring harmonies worthy of the Byrds while keeping it real with a crazy, freewheeling guitar solo not moored to anything at all.

If you like the sing-along qualities of pure pop music, but hate the over-produced crap that pollutes the spirit, pick up this disk. The Makes Nice wants to be your friend, as long as you’re buying.