Haircut 100's debut album, Pelican West is a widely uneven concoction of lite funk and jazzy new wave pop. Although the group's music was frequently so light it virtually disappeared, they did record a pair of classic new wave singles with the effervescent "Love Plus One" and "Favourite Shirts (Boy Meets Girl)." Although much of the record lacks the hooks of those two tracks, there's a handful of enjoyably breezy pop songs on Pelican West, such as "Fantastic Day" and "Snow Girl," that makes it worth investigating for new wave fetishists. Still, there's no denying that Haircut 100's material was often inadequate -- a situation only emphasized on the American edition of the album, which places the singles at the front -- and that the record sounded like a period piece just a few years after its release. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Professional Reviews
Q (11/92, p.133) - 4 Stars - Excellent - "..Their brand of frantic, brassy, two-chord pop funk remains surprisingly fresh and sparky a decade on...infectious and entertaining.."
CMJ (1/5/04, p.10) - Ranked #6 in CMJ's "Top 20 Most-Played Albums of 1982".
