Billboard

Sept. 24, 2005

NOW HEAR THIS

YOUR GUIDE TO UNSIGNED BANDS

>>>THE 88

Power-pop act the 88 has won
rave reviews from LA Weekly to Rolling Stone, and earned national exposure
on the Sept. 8 season premiere of Fox’s “The OC,” which highlighted
its album “Over and Over,” due Sept. 20. The act’s sophmore effort
– released on a friend’s label, EMK Records – is a glorious collection of
’60s-inspired, with hooks packed into nearly each of its 45 minutes. But
behind the peppy piano-driven melodies are the sincere and mature lyrics
of Keith Slettedahl. “I’m feeling older than a younger man should,”
he shouts on “Hide Another Mistake.” With sold-out shows in Los
Angeles, plenty are listening. – Todd Martens