Juanita Ave.

On the first listen to this record, the Bingo Trappers sound as if they're slopping their way through a bunch of obscure Bob Dylan and Simon & Garfunkel covers. It also comes across as if the guitarist/vocalist is playing the wrong chords because he's too busy looking at his pen-marked arm where he scribbled all the lyrics he was supposed to memorize. But by the second listen, Juanita Ave. has that lo-fi appeal of slacker folk that resembles One Foot in the Grave-era Beck, except not as bluesy. Additional aspirations of a less angst-filled Modest Mouse can also be heard, but, all in all, the originality of the Bingo Trappers contains a reflection of freedom rock that will be featured on anything but a Time-Life collection. Although the latter description could be considered as an insult, these guys have a nostalgic '60s sound that looks back to an era when one could make a political statement with a guitar and a notebook full of anti-war ramblings. The only difference is that these Amsterdam natives don't have a war to speak out about, so an all-around sillier sound prevails instead.