The Rentals Albums (2)
'Seven More Minutes'
Release Date 4/13/1999
Tracks 15
Label Warner Bros.
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What The Critics Say
Somewhere between the surprise success of The Return of the Rentals and the draining tour for Weezer's second album, Pinkerton, the Rentals became more than a side project for Matt Sharp. He wound up leaving Weezer and devoting himself to the Rentals, setting out to record their second record in London in late 1996. With the exception of Kevin March, who replaces Weezer drummer Patrick Wilson, the supporting band remains the same on Seven More Minutes as it does on the debut, but there's a major difference here. Where The Return of the Rentals was a kind of kitschy new wave tribute, Seven More Minutes is designed to prove that this is a real band, capable of all kinds of styles and sounds. To that effect, Sharp lined up an impressive list of guest artists to flesh out the sound even more. Not a bad idea in theory, but there's a problem that a record boasting cameos from Damon Albarn, Donna Matthews, Miki Berenyi, and Tim Wheeler feels something like a Brit-pop hangover. To Sharp's credit, he throws out enough different styles to keep such impressions from solidifying, but that has a countereffect of making the record sound too diffuse, especially on initial plays. With repeated spins, several songs -- the dynamic opener "Getting By," the exuberant "Barcelona," the jangling "She Says It's Alright" -- catch hold, but the whole project never really gels. It may have been done as a lark, but The Return of the Rentals had a breezy sense of fun that gave it coherence. Seven More Minutes proves that the Rentals are more than just a side project, but it finds them searching for a distinctive identity when, ironically, they had one when they were just a side project. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
'Return of the Rentals'
Release Date 1/1/1995
Tracks 10
Label Maverick/Reprise
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What The Critics Say
Alongside his stint as the bass player for the ever-beloved Weezer, Matt Sharp found time to put out a record from a little side project of his, and unknowingly dropped a surprisingly influential album on the ears of many a listener. Taking a bit of the harmony loving pure-pop songwriting skills honed in his other band, Sharp topped off the Rentals with plenty of Moog powered keyboard flair and ended up with an album that ushered back in a new wave of cheesy electro-keyboard pop with a restored spirit and a knack for unforgettable hooks. From the radio hit "Friends of P" to the clunky opener of "The Love I'm Searching For," Return of the Rentals has few moments that aren't bursting with catchy choruses and lovelorn sentiments. Helping out is a cast that includes Weezer drummer Pat Wilson, and most noticeably, That Dog's Petra Hayden, whose sugary vocals make for some of the disc's most timeless moments. Convincing a new generation of kids that new wave could still be cool, the Rentals' first record may have been a fluke, but it really doesn't matter. Sure, their later recordings were nowhere near as innocent and memorable, but this record is a real benchmark of carefree pop from the '90s and shouldn't be forgotten anytime soon. ~ Peter J. D'Angelo, All Music Guide
