The Rooks
From The Shelves Of Soundscape Studio
(Not Lame)

I firmly believe that Michael Mazzarella is the powerpop version of Nick Drake in that he has such a pastoral folky sensibility which he applies generously to the usual Beatles-Beach Boys-Byrds-Big Star template that is common in this genre. Which is what distinguishes the Rooks from the rest, certainly. This collection of outtakes and rarities is certainly no substitution for the long overdue follow-up to the sumptuous feast that was Wishing Well (1999) but it will do. B+ (www.therooks.com)

Kevin M. Mathews
The Power Of Pop, December, 2002