The Able Tasmans are my favorite rock band of the 90s. They chalked up three excellent LPs and a fine EP ("The Shape Of Dolls") during that decade; the best is perhaps 1991's Hey Spinner, which somehow blends the psychedelic ambition of Love's Forever Changes with the frenzied strumming drone of the Feelies' The Good Earth.

On the assumption that some of you are using this site as a buyer's guide I feel it's only fair to mention that occasionally the Tasmans sound a little like the Moody Blues. But only the good parts of the Moody Blues e.g. melodic and harmonic elements. (Just admit it, the chorus of "Nights In White Satin" is pretty friggin' great). No hippie sentimentality, no sophomoric philosophizing, and the orchestrations are intricate and tasteful rather than bombastic. Also, they have a sense of humor, which never burdened Justin Hayward and Co.

An excellent overview is provided by the Songs From the Departure Lounge retrospective, which visits the stereo very frequently in our house. It also has some warm and quite hilarious liner notes. The version of "Buffalos" heard here is from that CD, and is different from the 7" version.