Drop Nineteens - Delaware (1992)

Drop Nineteens were a post-shoegazing band out of Boston in the early 1990s. They were only around from 1991 to 1995, but they were able to churn out a couple of fantastic records. Their 1992 debut album, Delaware, is an underrated classic. Granted, the band didn’t add anything truly original to the shoegazing genre that My Bloody Valentine and Ride didn’t do already, however they created a more sunny atmosphere (probably because Boston gets a lot more sun than London). As the genre itself was more popular in the UK, this album got more recognition over there than in the US, although they did get a good amount of college radio play.
Delaware opens with its five-minute title track, an array of swirling guitars and a duet between vocalists/guitarists Greg Ackell and Paula Kelley. Unlike some other shoegazing bands at the time, they let the vocals have almost as much prominence as the buzzing guitars. “Delaware” should have been a radio hit for sure, along with “Winona,” and the acoustic “Baby Wonder’s Gone.” The band also shows off a more experimental edge on songs like “Ease It Halen,” and the 9-minute “Kick the Tragedy.” They also put a very interesting twist on Madonna’s early hit “Angel.” Instead of synths and chipmunk-esque vocals, Drop Nineteens give it a dose of ethereal vocals, layers of guitar and a lot more emotion than the Material Girl.
Sadly, after only one more album, Drop Nineteens imploded and the members went off to do other projects. (c) Music Spiel