Howdy stranger: A is for Acetone
Acetone's self-titled release.
Located between A Certain Ratio's Early and The Action's Rolled Gold is Acetone, who signed to Virgin Records subsidiary Vernon Yard in 1993, about the same time as Low. The two bands certainly share a similar vibe, even though Acetone is much more of a roots-rock band than Low. After releasing their second album in 1996 for Vernon Yard, the band was dropped. They resurfaced the following year with a new self-titled release on Vapor Records, a subsidiary of Reprise. This is the lone Acetone record that I have, and the lone Acetone record that I've heard.
Acetone wasn't reviewed too favorably by the media, and if memory serves didn't sell too well, either. Listening to it now, I can certainly see why. There's a smokey, sullen ambiance that lingers throughout the album. Acetone sounds simply disillusioned on this release, which is probably why I really liked them at the time while most others didn't. To say that this release was out of touch with pop culture is an understatement, as the group favors an odd hodgepodge of Velvet Underground's mellower, looser moments and Gram Parson's more introspective side—sort-of a Pavement-gone-country aesthetic. There was definitely no radio potential to be found here.
Singer/bassist Richie Lee is hardly what I'd call an engaging singer, despite his occasional attempts at gloom and doom (that were foreboding, apparently, as he committed suicide in 2001). But, his California-cool attitude oozes throughout his songwriting and singing, and ultimately provides Acetone with their standoffish posturing. I wouldn't call Acetone essential listenting, but I'm not coughing up my copy anytime soon regardless.
I have an acetone story, too. In 10th grade, on the morning of the infamous annual "school picture," I had on my snazzy new rayon shirt. Now, I was really excited to wear this shirt. I was also frantically attempting to touch up my nail polish at the last minute. Suddenly, I looked at my shirt & there was a giant hole in it. That's right--acetone, a.k.a., the main ingredient in nail polish remover. Ate right through my beautiful synthetic shirt.
Interestingly, my story occurred right around the same time Acetone the band signed with Virgin Records. Hmm...
By 
hungrygirl, at 12:15 AM
12:15 AMI have an acetone story, too. In 10th grade, on the morning of the infamous annual "school picture," I had on my snazzy new rayon shirt. Now, I was really excited to wear this shirt. I was also frantically attempting to touch up my nail polish at the last minute. Suddenly, I looked at my shirt & there was a giant hole in it. That's right--acetone, a.k.a., the main ingredient in nail polish remover. Ate right through my beautiful synthetic shirt.
Interestingly, my story occurred right around the same time Acetone the band signed with Virgin Records. Hmm...