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Album Details

• Artist: The Flops
• Album: Ooh La La
• Label: indie
• Year of Release: 2003
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: jparker on 2003-09-10

John Munson, bass player of Semisonic, used to play in a band called Trip Shakespeare with guitarist Matt Wilson. I remember the name, but I never heard their music. From the strength of this album - a reunion of Wilson and Munson as The Flops - I'm curious to hear what I missed. Recorded as a live acoustic set in their home town of Minneapolis, Ooh La La captures two rock veterans sounding relaxed and confident. A small but appreciative crowd is treated to an extraordinary set of songs. Matt Wilson's breathy, tuneful voice is perfectly suited to the poppier side of rock. The opening track, "Deep All The Way Down" looks at the self-doubt of a songwriter - "Half of this song I stole from a stranger / Half of this song I made for myself / But I can't think about it much more / I'm afraid there is nothing in my core." Is it autobiographical? It's ironic that such a great song is about the fear of songwriting. And as a disclaimer, it's unnecessary. "Two Wheeler, Four Wheeler" begins with a rousing harmonica, and sounds too polished to be new - the whistles of recognition (and a quick search of the web) reveal it's an old Trip Shakespeare song. The album title comes from the Faces' hit - played as an encore but stuck in the middle of the CD. But the 10 other original songs are more compelling than this, or the other cover, Big Star's "I'm In Love With A Girl." (The Ooh La La package also includes a CD ROM, featuring a work of fiction to read on-screen, while songs from the CD play. Although it's well done, it would be more pleasant to read offline.) With remarkable harmonies, hooks galore, bittersweet melodies, and witty songwriting, The Flops are onto something good. Let's hope they continue - buy this album so they can release some more!

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