ARTIST: The Well Wishers
TITLE: Under The Arrows
LABEL: Not Lame
GENRE: Rock
TIME: 41:28 min
SIZE:  69,5 MB
RIP DATE: Oct-05-2005
RELEASE DATE: Oct-05-2005
WEBSITE: n/a

Track List:

01. In Search Of Alter Egos                    03:29
02. Double Vision                              03:48
03. Break It Up                                03:01
04. Before The Race Was Run                    04:48
05. Lost At Sea                                04:40
06. Lucky You                                  03:12
07. Waiting Alone                              03:16
08. Peace And Quiet                            03:45
09. Fourth Of July                             03:42
10. Brain Trust Odyssey                        04:23
11. Only Sky                                   03:24

Release Notes:

"Under The Arrows" has it all for the genuine power
pop fans, chugging, melodic rhythms, powerful hooks,
angelic vocals, verses that tickle `n hint at `the
great money shot of a classic chorus and a
respectful homage to pop peers. Those inspirations
include the Shoes, The Posies, Nada Surf and Matthew
Sweet. This 2nd album from Jeff Shelton, who plays
almost everything on this release, is their next
bold evolutionary step taking all the elements that
made the debut, Twenty-Four Seven, such a favorite
for many Not Lame fans.

Like that album, "Under The Arrows" has plenty of
rich, melodic tracks which driven heavily by
acoustic guitars; warm ringing electric guitars, and
cascading vocal harmonies punctuated by Shelton`s
penchant for elaborate pop arrangements. The end
result is a big, full-bodied album that transcends
the staleness of commercial-rock and forgettable pop
cliches. But what is new here, what displays a
confident flexing of creative muscle is a restless
spirit to take what was natural of The Well Wishers`
past and take that vision into some new places.
Where that is most evident is on songs such as the
elegiac, dreamy quality founds on "Before The Race
Was Won" which sounds like the great, transcendent
lost track from the "Dear 23" sessions of The
Posies. The echoes of The Hollies are all over the
place. Similarly, "Lost At Sea" mixes the classic
balladry of, say, "Karen" by Shoes and combines it
with the gorgeous, sparkling jangle of Toad The Wet
Sprocket and The Ocean Blue. At the base of all
these songs is the acoustic guitar. Lots of it,
always driving the rhythms with those stringed
swells comes a raw emotionalism that paints melodies
that just ring true. This is not maudlin pop, it`s
filled with life, a vision to look at the best in
people all reflected wonderfully in power of the
music. Well Wishers, indeed.

This is quote from The Power Of Pop, an online zine,
that really captures the excitement of The Well
Wishers and serve not only the debut well, but
"Under The Arrows". "How can anyone get tired of the
sheer musical passion and melodic intensity that
quality power pop offers? Chiming Rickenbacker
arpeggios, charming tunes, power chord dynamics,
walls of harmonies, frenetic drum work, jaunty
rhythms, orchestral constructs there is no limit to
what artistic power pop can sound like. As much as I
enjoyed the work of Jeff Sheltons Spinning Jennies,
Ive always thought that Jeff could do much more than
the driving guitar pop that his group excelled in.

I was right!

The Well Wishers is.. perhaps one of the best power
pop albums of the year..Jeffs crowning achievement
is to sustain a consistent flow throughout to
produce a kaleidoscopic presentation of our beloved
artform."