Vehicle (The Clean album)

The Clean formed in Dunedin, New Zealand in 1978, consisting of vocalist and bassist Peter Gutteridge, guitarist David Kilgour and drummer Hamish Kilgour. They made their live debut that year supporting the Enemy. Sometime later, Gutteridge left to form the Chills, being replaced by Robert Scott; the Chills temporarily broke-up in June 1981, and their guitarist Martin Phillipps joined the Clean on keyboards. They issued their debut single "Tally Ho!" (1981) through independent label Flying Nun Records, followed by the Boodle Boodle Boodle (1981) and Great Sounds Great, Good Sounds Good, So-so Sounds So-so, Bad Sounds Bad, Rotten Sounds Rotten (1982) EPs. By the time the "Getting Older" single was released, the band had broken up, spurred on by the pressures of fame. Over the ensuing years, the members would form other acts and the Odditties (1983) and Odditties 2 (1988) compilations would be issued.{{cite book|last=Thompson|first=Dave|author-link=Dave Thompson (author)|title=Alternative Rock|series=Third Ear: The Essential Listening Companion|year=2000|publisher=Miller Freeman Books|location=San Francisco, California|isbn=0-87930-607-6|page=273}}

The Clean, with a line-up of Kilgour, Kilgour, and Scott, eventually reunited on 13 July 1988 for a one-off show at the Fulham Greyhound pub in London, England. After this was issued as the In-a-Live EP, Flying Nun said the reunion would be permanent. Following some touring, they made their debut album Vehicle, prior to breaking up again.{{cite book|last=Thompson|first=Dave|author-link=Dave Thompson (author)|title=Alternative Rock|series=Third Ear: The Essential Listening Companion|year=2000|publisher=Miller Freeman Books|location=San Francisco, California|isbn=0-87930-607-6|page=274}}

{{Album ratings

|rev1 = AllMusic

|rev1score = {{rating|4|5}}[{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r4128|pure_url=yes}} AllMusic review]

| rev2 = Alternative Rock

| rev2Score = 5/10

|rev3 = Robert Christgau

|rev3score = A−[http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?id=1401&name=The+Clean Robert Christgau review]

|rev4 = Pitchfork Media

|rev4score = 8.4/10[http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/18352-the-clean-vehicle/ Pitchfork review]

|rev5 = Spin Alternative Record Guide

|rev5score = 5/10{{cite book |title=Spin Alternative Record Guide |date=1995 |publisher=Vintage Books |pages=85, 86}}

}}

The New York Times wrote that "the guitar chords still tumble out with the grace of falling bricks, and the songs have an endearing buoyancy that results from the band's conscious rejection of precision."{{cite news |last1=Schoemer |first1=Karen |title=Rock From New Zealand Inhabits Its Own Hemisphere |work=The New York Times |date=13 May 1990 |page=A29}} Author Dave Thompson, in his book Alternative Rock (2000), wrote that the album has "little in the way of songs ... but a lot of texture and attitude. Not worth waiting for, but it sure feels nice."

All songs written by David Kilgour, Hamish Kilgour, and Robert Scott.

{{tracklist

| headline =

| title1 = Draw(in)g to a (W)hole

| length1 = 2:03

| title2 = I Wait Around

| length2 = 2:42

| title3 = Bye Bye

| length3 = 2:15

| title4 = The Blue

| length4 = 1:45

| title5 = Dunes

| length5 = 3:01

| title6 = Some One

| length6 = 1:51

| title7 = Home

| length7 = 2:01

| title8 = Diamond Shine

| length8 = 3:13

| title9 = Getting to You

| length9 = 1:46

| title10 = Big Soft Punch

| length10 = 2:32

| title11 = Big Cat

| length11 = 1:41

| title12 = I Can See

| length12 = 2:33

| title13 = Gem

| length13 = 1:07

}}

{{reflist}}

• [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lE97wxzVuZM7UvNUrMBOOHRAQO8Xxm4eI Vehicle] at YouTube (streamed copy where licensed)
• {{MusicBrainz release|mbid=546ca592-a825-455c-b805-ac0c3bcdfb92|name=Vehicle}}

{{The Clean}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:The Clean albums

Category:Flying Nun Records albums

Category:Rough Trade Records albums

Category:1990 albums

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