Album of the Day

Washington, D.C. indie rockers Lilys emerged at the end of the 1980s, adopting a U.K. shoegaze approach. But any band with as many lineup changes as this one (nearly 50 musicians have passed through the still-active group, with singer-guitarist Kurt Heasley the sole constant) is bound to change, so the mid-1960s stylings of BETTER CAN'T MAKE YOUR LIFE BETTER shouldn't be too surprising. Heasley's still looking to Britain for inspiration, but the 11 originals on the 1996 Elektra set hew closer to The Kinks and The Zombies than My Bloody Valentine, as vibrant melodies, hooks and guitar riffs carry the day. “Cambridge California,” “Returns Every Morning” and U.K. hit “A Nanny in Manhattan” are among the ear candy on BETTER CAN'T MAKE YOUR LIFE BETTER, and this consistently listenable album is perhaps the best point of entry for anyone curious about the Lilys.