Sittin’ Pretty

Released

1989’s Sittin’ Pretty was recorded by a band nearing the end of their time together – soon after, The Pastels split down the middle, with Stephen Pastel and Aggi separating from the rest of the band. That might explain the strange tension in parts of Sittin’ Pretty, as though the album hasn’t quite found its true metier, but there are a number of Pastels’ classics here, none more so than the fierce, hypnotic boy/girl duet of “Nothing Can Be Done”. Elsewhere, the songs are full of mournful longing (“Baby You’re Just You”) and romantic indignance (“Ditch The Fool”), drenched in fuzzed-out guitars and buzzing pop drones; there are also some glorious moments where they sound like a Glasgow tenements take on the New York Dolls (“Sit On It Mother”).

Jon Dale

Suggestions
Tales of the Unexpected cover

Tales of the Unexpected

The Lighthouse Keepers
Strand cover

Strand

The Spinanes
London 0 Hull 4 cover

London 0 Hull 4

The Housemartins
Crocodiles cover

Crocodiles

Echo & the Bunnymen
Brave Words cover

Brave Words

The Chills
Nothing We Can Control cover

Nothing We Can Control

International Airport
Seance cover

Seance

The Church