The Basics - "Bitter/Sweet" @ Score! Music Magazine

Photo Unavailable	The Basics - Bitter/Sweet Name
	Location	Berrien Springs, MI
	Initial Impression	You know that bar you go to with your parents' nutty middle-aged friend? These guys are the house band.
Notable Lyric	From the liner notes – "Recorded...at beautiful NoBarn Studio in Berrien Springs, MI. Address: you can't get there. Phone: please don't call" (what a marketing strategy!).
Factoid	These guys know where to send the lovin'; two-thirds of their thank-yous are dedicated to the wife of drummer Ben Hahaj, who allows them the use of her house for practice space.
Serve With	Milk and Oreos, or white zinfandel and Valium (whatever gets you mellow).
Comments	Bitter/Sweet is a CD I would let my kids listen to, if I had any (shudder). Little stands out about this album; none of the three band members ever tries to outshine the other two, and the sound is typical older-rockers-raised-on-the-Beatles. While this lack of stimulation relegates Bitter/Sweet to background music duty when my parents are in town, this isn't a bad album to have around. In a world where swaggering, angst-spouting shock jocks are a dime a dozen, a CD as harmless and noninvasive as Bitter/Sweet provides a clean, relaxing change of pace.
URL	www.dougcowenandthebasics.com
Reviewer	Matt (03/04)