Soft Bomb by The Chills

The Chills had had modest international success with 1990\'s *Submarine Bells*, which went to No. 1 in their New Zealand homeland. Yet that only led to Martin Phillipps rolling over the band roster and returning with a largely American cast of musicians—The dBs’ Peter Holsapple, Lisa Mednick, and Clay Idols’ Steve Schayer—and going to Los Angeles to record the band’s final album as The Chills. (The group\'s few future releases would be credited Martin Phillipps & The Chills.) Songs such as “The Male Monster from the Id,” “Background Affair,” and “Ocean Ocean” proved an effective opening trio, while the variously numbered “Soft Bomb” tracks (aside from the fully formed first installment) serve as little intrusions into the album\'s flow, made even more pronounced by “There Is No Harm in Trying” and “There Is No Point in Trying” providing their half-minutes of music-hall entertainment. Tucked inside these crazy points are genuinely great songs: the masterful “Song for Randy Newman Etc.” and the wistful “Double Summer.” Van Dyke Parks orchestrated the chilling “Water Wolves.”

Originally released in 1992, The Chills’ third album ‘Soft Bomb’ came out on Slash/Warners. “’Soft Bomb’ was The Chills' finest hour.” Perfect Sound Forever Featuring contributions from giants of contemporary American music like Van Dyke Parks and ex dB's Peter Holsapple as collaborators. A cohesive song cycle that brought together indie pop jangle, Phillipps’ clever lyrics, a “drunken piece of music hall” (AllMusic), an offbeat homage to Randy Newman, filmic string-laden scores, some grown up licks and three thematic interludes. A roller coaster 17-song, 51 minute trip, a conceptual classic that embraces styles and genres. “Their songs call like rare, exotic wines, intoxicating and addictive and beautifully melancholic, while simultaneously inspiringly uplifting.” Repeat Fanzine ‘Soft Bomb’ is an eclectic slow cooked musical stew, rich and rewarding from the much-loved storytelling songwriter Martin Phillipps.

Going through yet another line-up revamp -- Phillipps is the only one remaining from the Submarine Bells performers -- the Chills approached what turned out to be the final album as simply the Chills (instead of "Martin Phillipps and...") in an unsettled state.

7 / 10