THE SNEETCHES in a perfect place (1989)

album : SOMETIMES THAT S ALL WE HAVE. San Francisco s Sneetches, guitarist Matt Carges, singer, guitarist Mike Levy, drummer Daniel Swan and, from Slow on, bassist Alejandro (Alec) Palao are one of the most tasteful, consistently tuneful pop bands on the American scene. Echoes of the Zombies, Left Banke and Easybeats (they ve covered songs by all three) abound; simple, uncluttered arrangements let their likeminded originals substantial charms shine through. Sometimes That s All We Have delivers what Lights Out only promised. Behind the engaging, sunny choruses and bouncy lovescapes lies a healthy dose of Syd Barrettsized neuroses. The album is bursting with brilliant production and arranging ideas: the piano and handclap break in the rocking Nowhere at All, the wornvinyl intro to Another Shitty Day, pedal steel and fingersnapping on Don t Turn Back, the almost campy oohlalala s of In a Perfect