On the Fourth of July, there are many who love America, but — believe it or not — hate fireworks. How could this be? Who doesn't love rapid-fire bursts of noise and light ripping through a night sky after a long day of obnoxious crowds, screaming children and blistering, asphalt-baked heat?
Galaxie 500's Dean Wareham feels the same way. On "Fourth of July," he admits to staying inside with shades drawn, so he doesn't "have to see the sky." It's an all-too-familiar anthem for the hermit: bright lights, big city, no date and an oversized bucket of cheese puffs.
But colors unexpectedly explode around languid na na na's and shocks of light stream down from bluesy guitar solos on the lead-off track of This Is Our Music, recently reissued on vinyl. If Galaxie 500 is trying to maintain its stay-at-home cool, the sonics of "Fourth of July" do not convince. It sounds like fireworks in blurry slow motion.
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