The Rentals, Seven More Minutes (Maverick/Reprise) 9-
Former Weezer member Matt Sharp wrote this album while hanging out for a year in Barcelona, Spain, enjoying the nightly festivities that seem to go nonstop. There is a big contrast between the dark, gloomy pictures of the Gothic Barrio on the cover art and the bouncy new wave and Britpop on the album. It seems Sharp was more influenced by the bad pop music played in Barcelona's cheesy dance clubs than its twisted, moody medieval streets. Not that this music is bad. While it lacks the obvious hits, the happy, scrappy songs are of a more enduring breed of rock than Sharp's old band. Recorded in London with guests like Damon Albarn, he doesn't quite match the depth of Blur, but does achieve some memorable moments. The best, and most promising as a single is the catchy "Barcelona," which recalls Frank Blank's equally earnest tribute to Los Angeles.
