Pick Up (album)

Pick Up
Studio album by
Solex
ReleasedSeptember 14, 1999 (1999-09-14)
StudioStudio Aftrap, Amsterdam; Studio Orkater, Amsterdam
Genre
Length44:07
LabelMatador Records
ProducerSolex
Solex chronology
Solex vs. the Hitmeister
(1998) 		Pick Up
(1999) 		Low Kick and Hard Bop
(2001)
Singles from Pick Up
  1. "Randy Constanza"
    Released: 1999
  2. "Athens Ohio"
    Released: 2000
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
Pitchfork7.6/10[3]

Pick Up is the second studio album by Solex.[2] It was released via Matador Records on September 14, 1999.[4] It peaked at number 34 on CMJ's Radio 200 chart.[5] As with her previous album Solex vs. the Hitmeister (1998), Pick Up is an art pop album that uses samples "in ways that both boggle and seduce".[1]

Reception

Heather Phares of AllMusic gave the album 4 stars out of 5, saying, "Elisabeth Esselink continues to recycle bad music into good, sampling the kitschiest, cheesiest records in her shop and shaping them into her distinctive musical vision."[2] S. Murray of Pitchfork gave the album a 7.6 out of 10, saying, "Pick Up is a strong developmental achievement in the right direction for Solex, and should stand as inspiration for used record store owners the world over."[3] T'Cha Dunlevy of The Gazette called it an unpredictable album where "noise is contorted to suit her melodic ends. Her voice is sweet and dreamy; songs materialize out of abstraction, sounding like they were there all along." They concluded it was a "distinctly creative, skewed and happy album".[1]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Solex

No.TitleLength
1."Pick Up"3:04
2."Randy Costanza"3:25
3."Dork at 12 O'Clock"2:52
4."That's What You Get with People Like That on Cruises Like These"3:02
5."Oh Blimey!"2:50
6."The Burglars Are Coming!"3:19
7."Superfruity"3:00
8."Snappy & Cocky"2:34
9."Five Star Shamberg"3:20
10."Chris the Birthday Boy"3:16
11."Athens Ohio"3:11
12."Escargot!"3:13
13."Another Tune Like 'Not Fade Away'"3:41
14."That'll Be $22.95"3:20

Personnel

Credits adapted from liner notes.

  • Elisabeth Esselink – words, music, production, recording, mixing
  • Frank van der Weij – recording, mixing
  • Robert Lagendijk – drums (on all tracks except 13)
  • Geert de Groot – guitar (on 1, 2, 4, 13, and 14)
  • Shane Deleon – clarinet (on 5, 6, 9, 10, and 12)
  • Cory Vielma – vocals (on 5 and 6)
  • Michael Shamberg – vocals (on 9)

References

  1. ^ a b c Dunlevy, T'Cha (16 September 1999). "Dutch treat from Solex". The Gazette (Canada): 49. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  2. ^ a b c Phares, Heather. "Pick Up - Solex". AllMusic. Retrieved October 31, 2017.
  3. ^ a b Murray, S. (September 14, 1999). "Solex: Pick Up". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 31, 2017.
  4. ^ "Pick Up". Matador Records. Retrieved October 31, 2017.
  5. ^ "CMJ Radio 200". CMJ New Music Report: 13. November 8, 1999.