Lost Together

The Rembrandts pretty much slipped off the pop radar after their fluke mid-'90s hit "I'll Be There for You," whose success (as the theme of a hit TV show nonetheless) pretty much guaranteed they'd be dismissed by hipsters. Judged without that baggage, though, Lost Together is a respectable, likable, even modest pop/rock record, better than those of many indies with cooler reputations. (And actually, this is on an indie label.) The melodies and harmonies are pleasing and not cliche. The songs are no great shakes as far as breaking new territory, but they're well-crafted evocations of the good and ambivalent times of personal maturation and romantic relationships. The production is no-nonsense, with some appealing acoustic guitar textures. It's not oomphed up for modern rock radio play as much as such material would be in the hands of large corporations. All this adds up to a triumph, given the low-key expectations for the endeavor. ~ Richie Unterberger|