Mouth to Mouth

by Dave SlegerThe Levellers' early albums were categorized by their alternative brand of folk-rock à la the Men They Couldn't Hang, and Zeitgeist was an aggressive affair that seemed to abandon their folk proclivities in favor of a more basic rock approach. With few exceptions, Mouth to Mouth effectively dumped those tendencies. Instead, this album boasts a smart guitar-oriented alternative pop sound like Oasis. The result is, without question, the Levellers' most upbeat and cheerful album ever. While they were always able to create memorable hooks, never have they been so consistent in their ability to write one catchy melody after another. Perhaps by dropping their angst-ridden attitude, their focus on writing became clearer and better defined. With exceptional songs like "Beautiful Day," "C.C.T.V.," and "Survivors," it's a wonder that Mouth to Mouth failed to receive a distribution deal in the U.S.