Wasp's Nest

Rolling Stone (6/15/95, p.81) - 3.5 Stars - Very Good - "...a chilly, stunning and sad symphony of breakup songs written with the contradictory beauty and cheer of some of the greatest pop singles of the '60s. [The] marriage of the cheap tinkle of keyboards graced with hushed vocals and spacier synth odysseys is both masterful and dangerous..." Spin (5/95, p.98) - 8 - Highly Recommended - "...[Stephin Merritt] is a one-man Brill Building, a synth-pop Noel Coward....What's most attractive about [WASPS' NESTS]--its showcasing of so many talented singers--is also its weakness. Merritt's idiosyncratic songs are meant for...his own voice..." Entertainment Weekly (4/7/95, p.92) - "...Using Casio keyboards, customized gizmos, and a few singers, Stephin Merritt fashions a homemade hit parade, catchier and smarter than anything in the Top 40. His toy symphony plays classics similar to Phil Spector, ABBA, and others..." - Rating: A Q (9/95, p.120) - 3 Stars - Good - "...Merrit's songs have flexibility and perhaps a greater appeal than was previously thought..." Option (9-10/95, p.135) - "...amazing songwriter, gossamer techno-pop melodies, brilliant lyrics, etc...WASPS' NEST is a brilliant, accesible, listener-friendly album..." Melody Maker (7/15/95, p.35) - Recommended - "...There are too many gems here....it's not a record to smash the barriers of sound, but it'll charm the pants off you. Guaranteed..." Village Voice (2/20/96) - Ranked #25 in Village Voice's 1995 Pazz & Jop Critics' Poll. NME (Magazine) (9/16/95, p.50) - 6 (out of 10) - "...touched by the tiny hand of genius....[Merritt's] love of allegedly `perfect' pop--Abba, chiefly--is...in evidence here, as [he] turns himself into a one-man Brill Building, pumping out possible hits for a generation of underground rockers..." Pitchfork (Website) - "It's the women on WASPS' NESTS that are given the real showcase. Unable to hit Merritt's low notes, they stay true to their own vocal range and the songs delight as a result."