Triplefastaction....Twin Cities Reader, May 1, 1996

Bringing up the rear in the major-label feeding frenzy that swept the likes of Veruca Salt and Loud Lucy out of Chicago and into the alternative-rock limelight, Windy City four-piece Triple Fast Action is finally on the shelves with Broadcaster, nearly a year after the album's completion. Co-produced by Don Fleming (Sonic Youth, Teenage Fan club), it's the kind of polished, punchy, unrestrained debut likely to make aspiring guitar teens drool all over their Telecasters.

Listeners live vicariously through front man Wes Kidd, whose catchy-keen melodies are channeled into a vocal hybrid of Evan Dando and Sunny Day Real Estate's Jeremy Enigk (Kidd's smarter than both). Songs like "Bird Again" and "Revved UP" achieve the improbable by finding earthly intersections where punk spirit, pop pleasantry and arena glory happily cross paths and even stop to shake hands. "American City World" and the epic (nearly 10 dreamy minutes) "Superstar" offer the sort of sing-along catharsis that demands high volume. It's Kidd in a rock'n'roll candy store, bagging up a blend of forces that only works because he means it.

In addition to fresh new anthems, you'll find mellower tracks ("Paris," "Don't Tell") that defy damning "chick song" tags, while "Cheery" packs an unconventional irony to put hardened rock cynics in check. Rounded out by Kevin Tihista and Brian St. Clair's searing rhythm section and Ronnie Schneider's supporting guitar, wee-rounded Broadcaster defies the one-hitter syndrome afflicting too many of Chicago's next big things. Bring the noise.

- James Diers