Fairground Attraction: "The First of A Million Kisses"

Sometimes we need to ease into the day before listening to our daily dose of the latest slabs of noise from Gwar and the like, and The First Of A Million Kisses is precisely the sort of cool, catchy record we like to start with.

Fairground Attraction is a four-piece from England which, along with producer Kevin Moloney (who's worked with Sinead O'connor and U2), has produced a fine collection of moody tunes, using nothing but acoustic instruments.

The lead single, "Perfect," was a surprise #1 hit on the British charts, and is sure to make a dent on Stateside hit lists behind the joyful lead vocal of Eddi Reader. Reader's vocals recall Rickie Lee Jones at times, but the rest of Fairground Attraction - Mark E. Nevin on guitar, Simon Edwards on guitaron (a Mexican acoustic bass) and drummer Riy Dodds - forms a cohesive backing unit, filling out the wonderful pop songs here with just the right amount of energy.

Other-top cuts: the Dixieland-influenced "Clare"; and "The Moon Is Mine," which is augmented by the fancy mandolin of Waterboy Anthony Thistlethwaite. A breath of fresh air.

from CMJ New Music Report