Although their career lasted only a few short years and the sum total of their recorded output fits comfortably on a single disc, Black Tambourine are one of the most important, not to mention best, bands to have come out of Washington D.C.’s independent music scene in the 1990s. Where twee pop’s original appeal came from a sense of shambling vulnerability, Black Tambourine created a sound as threatening and aggressive as it was accessible. With the release of Black Tambourine, Slumberland Records updates their 1999 compilation of the group’s material, adding six new tracks including two demos, two covers and two unreleased originals. The added tracks might be a mixed bag, but as a whole, the collection is completely essential. Read full review at inyourspeakers.com
