The legend of the Pixies will never die; it even haunts the streets of Omaha, Nebraska, which is where we find Garfan (http://www.garfan.com). If one were to find a time machine and jet back to the early '90s, just prior to grunge's world domination, the seeds that planted Garfan would be found. This is a group that, stylistically speaking, seem to be oblivious to American radio trends of the past 10 years. I could've easily imagined Garfan opening up for indie rockers like Superchunk, Buffalo Tom, and the Lemonheads when alternative rock wasn't synonymous with corporate sellout yet.
"I've Been Waiting" pours on the guitar distortion but singer Katie Preston keeps it sweet, almost like My Bloody Valentine without the disorienting shoegazer effects. "Of Course I Do," "Dwell," and "Mantrap" are brass-knuckled rockers that will tear the paint off your dorm room. However, Dale Hayes' aggressive riffs are always based on toe-tapping hooks. So many groups today can turn up the amps but find themselves groping in the dark for a distinctive groove. Not so with Garfan.
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Garfan aren't revolutionary; for longtime followers of alternative rock, much of "Family Affair" will sound familiar. Yet you have to ask yourself: Is there anything original in rock & roll anymore? Probably not. And being derivative isn't going to prevent me from cranking this record whenever it's on my player.
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