steering clear of the mainstream
since 2001

june 2010

review
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info opinion

Lost on Purpose

"1st" CDR-EP

Self-released

Genres: lo-fi, acoustic pop, indie pop

Lost on Purpose
1444 N. Poinsettia Pl, Suite 111
Hollywood CA 90046

Mar 29 - Apr 4 2004

Lost on Purpose, the work of Billy Baru member Wil Holland, is a lo-fi, acoustic pop outfit specializing in a unique brand of acoustic, emotional (but calm) guitar-and-vocals songwriting.  Much like his previous work with Billy Baru, this disc has had some technical difficulties that have held back this review.  As the EP progresses, the songs become more and more 'clippy', until the sound is just abominable.  Somebody's CD burner isn't compatible with my stereo, it seems.

As for the songs themselves (or at least the first four, as the latter two are basically indecipherable due to the sound issues), there's lots of good on 1st.  Right from the first tune, a minimal, mildly infectious pop song, lo-fi addicts should be intrigued.  Holland relies on simple melodies that aren't packed with hooks, but rather quite simplistic and compact.  "Friends," for example, relies on a simple, repeated guitar pattern for its main melody.  Holland may wish to vary the melodies in his songs a little next time around, as these tunes aren't necessarily going to stand up well with repeated listens.

1st is a promising EP - you know you've done well when I actually want to hear what the corrupted tracks are supposed to sound like.  I'm looking forward to Lost on Purpose's follow-up.

84%

Matt Shimmer

[Vitals: 12 tracks, distributed by Fusion III, released 2003]