1986

As the name of the band might suggest, the music on this CD could have been created eighteen years ago, but still has a modern edge that gives its date of origin away. 1986 combines the sounds of lounge, and easy surf with a slinky drawl that could have easily appeared on a Smiths, Housemartins, or an Ultravox record with the edge of a trendy indie rock band from, say... Somerville. 1986 is definitely moody but with a lighthearted nudge and a wink of a band that is comfortable with its influences and continues to have fun with them. Whereas CD has a definitive DIY flavor to it, 1986 is far too developed and interesting to continue being DIY for very much longer. This disc is impressive! - Boston Noise

As the band name suggests, 1986 sounds somewhat retro, but in a modern way. Given the popularity and success of national groups like Franz Ferdinand and Arcade Fire, there is certainly more of an audience for this kind of pop than there was when 1986 put out their first EP. The major difference is that 1986 does what they do so well, that is hard to conceive that this band will stay indie for much longer. Dave Haddens songwriting is sharp, clever and rife with danceable hooks that hearken back to, well. 1986, but with a fresh indie rock edge. This newer material, definitely touches on some additional influences, from Bacharach and Costello in the song Keep Yr Head, to Moz and Style Council in the song Acrobats; Fools... The ukulele on the closing acoustic track makes it worth having this CD. 1986 has tightly honed their craft and created four more of your favorite songs. - Boston Noise

The Boston pop group 1986 will be alright with the world if in the future their records are "playing on jukeboxes in the '50's of the new millenium as robot teenagers buy milkshakes for their sweethearts." And the 1986 are forward thinking, they haven't forgotten the recent past: the futuro-exotica of their "Walking" Sambas out of Combustible Edison's space age bachelor pad, and on the more decade appropriate "Rubix Cube," death ray synths compete with new romantic echo chamber guitars for the lonely heart of a 1993 grunge hook - Boston Phoenix