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Dec 12, 2017 Acetone By Matthew Berlyant

Underappreciated during their lifetime, the Los Angeles slowcore group Acetone are finally receiving some of the attention that they have long deserved via this fantastic compilation on the venerable Light in the Attic label. They recorded for the Vernon Yard label (home of The Verve, whose Richard Ashcroft loved this band) and put out an EP and four albums, but their tenure was cut tragically short when singer Richie Lee took his own life in 2001. 1992-2001 takes some of the very best material from their four albums of original material (nothing from their all-covers 1995 effort I Guess I Would is included here). This collection shows that any fan of the slower side of Yo La Tengo, Luna, Mazzy Star and other bands that mine that Velvet Underground (circa their third album) derived slow, droning sound mixed with country-rock influence owe it to themselves to check this out. (Mazzy Star singer Hope Sandoval is also a massive fan and the surviving members have backed her at a recent show in Los Angeles as Acetone, their first live appearance in 16 years.) Highlights include the mesmerizing “All the Time,” the opener “Shaker,” and a few demos included to entice completists. One can hope that in the wake of this compilation, their proper albums will one day be reissued too. (www.lightintheattic.net)

Author rating: 8.5/10