I’ve read that this band hates it when it’s compared to seemingly obvious influences like Polvo, My Bloody Valentine, the Flaming Lips, the Beatles, and Mercury Rev, calling it “lazy journalism” or something to that effect, whereas it should be complemented for being thought of in such company. Lenola showers its psychedelic pop songs with shards of noise and effects. This is no new trick, but Lenola does seem to have a unique perspective on its unorthodox approach to pop music. The band records and produces all of its own material, which is quite a task considering how much is going on in each song.

Vocalist Jay Laughlin’s voice is high and distant and works well with the band’s harmonies and dense instrumentation. If you took away all the effects these would be simple, catchy pop songs, but the wash of noise and bended pitches, which, let’s be honest, sound exactly like My Bloody Valentine, add a whole new dimension and mystique. This band knows how to make a melodic ruckus. Songs like “Frukus” and “Something For Brown” fuse the best elements of neo-psychedelia and dissonance to form some of the strangest and most exciting pop songs since bands like Ride and Swervedriver hit the streets.

Lenola released a string of seven inch singles before its first full length in 1996, The Last 10ft. Of The Suicide Mile, and My Invisible Name is the band’s third album.