The dictionary defines "superfluous" as "unnecessary; uncalled for; irrelevant", and in a twisted, ironic way, it fits. This is a tape you could live without, but I wouldn't advise it. The Barenaked Ladies, They Might Be Giants, Dinosaur Jr. and Dead Milkmen are all bands that defy labelling, yet SP manages to fuse the styles of all those bands (and more) together in a laid-back, lo-fi, minimalist fashion.
5 of the 7 songs feature only guitar(s) and voice(s), with cameos by a pennywhistle and a bell. Of the 2 exceptions, "24-hour Pharmacy" is so groovy (the Knack meets the Cure). The other is an odd keyboard/drum machine instrumental called "Doorknob Lizard", which could have been halved in length or extended to an 8-minute epic improvisation, and still remain cool (Flaming Lips meets Booker T and the MG's on downers). The core 5 songs reflect a Strawberry/Eric's Trip/Merge feel, written while couch-fishing (huh-huh) and recorded on a ghetto blaster.
Note: 5000 Nathans and Alexes agree that Dinosaur Jr. are good.
contact: Nathan Townshend c/o Spedwok Records, RR#1, Little York, PEI, C0A 1P0