01/13/2006 9:00 PM, Yahoo! Music
Rob O'Connor

As supersizing grows in controversy as a health-threatening fast-food offering, it’s gaining momentum as a positive rock strategy. Seattle’s Lashes are an overstuffed six piece (two guitars, bass, keys, drums and singer) that play melodic pop-rock that one minute stutters with the innate anxiety of the Strokes only to break into a shuffling piano-based pop confection that suggests they overheard Ben Folds Five during a life-changing moment on The O.C. (“Dear Hollywood”), while other tunes reflect their Lookout! Records roots (check their debut EP The Stupid Stupid). With master producer John Goodmanson (Sleater-Kinney, the Like) twirling the knobs, the band’s sweetness is matched with layers of swooping keyboards and ageless harmonies that recall everyone from the Raspberries to Weezer. Singer Ben Clark’s aiming to be the Strokes’ Julian Casablancas’ most able understudy, whereas guitarists Scotty Rickard and Eric Howk are the next evil twin guitar tag-team. You’ve heard it before, but this time it’s BIGGER.