from Pallid Pilgrim, "the Optional Art newsletter", Winter 1996-1997

Bad Examples - Kisses 50 Cents (Waterdog)

How come these guys never get any press?? When I first heard the Bad Examples' "Bad Is Beautiful" CD a few years ago, I thought it was a perfect marriage between Squeeze and The dB's. Aside from a couple bar band stumbles, their songs were full of literate and witty wordplay, extended melody lines, and assured pop playing. But no one wrote about them, and it was only by accident that I discovered their most recent CD, "Kisses 50 Cents," which continues the tradition.

Despite the current spate of high quality pop bands, what sets The Bad Examples apart is their sophistication. This is a band that, like the Beatles, The Beach Boys, or XTC, continues to stretch their abilities. The chord progressions invite complex melodic and harmonic invention, and the band rarely repeats the same ideas. Despite the depth, it's all accessible. And that's what the best pop does -- combine ever increasing artistry with accessibility. I love bands who aren't afraid to admit they read books, see good films, and have thoughtful opinions.

I've heard The Bad Examples have broken up, but I hope it's not true. Forget the mainstream -- too many people in the pop underground still need to discover them!

-RZ