Erie Times Review—by Dave Richards

This appeared in the Monday January 29th edition of the Erie Times News.

Telefonics---Strangest Places

You can tell telefonics love pop music on "Strangest Places", the band's third CD. This Erie band servces up its most focused batch yet of catchy, exuberant pop nuggets, occasionally dipped in feedback and psychedelic detours.

Overall, the sound is bigger, heavier but also grander, with beefed up harmonies and a few anthemlike choruses, especially on the insanely addicting "Laser Beams" and "Cinema Poseur Photography." Then there's the surging irrepressible "Shut Up and Dance" which will make you do just that.

Telefonics lay on the 80's-style Casio keyboards a bit thick; they occasionally recall long-defunct, obscure band Human Switchboard. But they also balance the pure-pop stuff with headier, harder Sonic Youth-like material, such as "Satellite" and the sublime 1000 Miles.

Along the way, Gina Rullo's kittenish voise meshes nicely with Josh Zimmer (also of Black Rose Diary). The male/female dynamic give telefonics a warmer, richer dynamic, especially on the slightly twangy "Sweet Sweet Home".

If "Mystery Science Theatre" had a house band, it might be telefonics for how they embrace campy fun without ever feeling like a novelty band. This is just fun, upbeat, if slightly askew pop music----with plenty of fizz.

Dave Richards--Erie Times News