3 out of 5

Producer: Phil Ek, LAL

Label: K Records

Before LAL turned out the gorgeous mixture of garage punk and poppy goodness that was Laughter’s Fifth, they gained some good press thanks to the really sloppy rockness that was their previous couple albums – Sea to Shining Sea and Destination 2000.  These were put out on Sub Pop and sorta matched that label’s trash vibe, though.  Prior to this came a couple of K Records albums – a mostly solo effort called Greks Bring Gifts and this, #1 U.S.A., where LAL became a band.  Interestingly, the solid rock that lead Sam Jayne and his band would begin to bring to the fore mostly on Sea is evident here, especially toward the front of the album, an absolute ear-catching blast of energetic vocals and thumping drums, Phil Ek’s tinny recording style letting the harshness of it all shine through.  But it starts to slip midway into the murkier waters of Greks, where noise and sludge ruled the day.  If you tune in, there’s still some good rock-pop late in the mix, but it’s lost when compared to the grabbing opening half.