The
Primitives' sound pretty much defines the lighter side of British pop in the late '80s: straight-ahead pop melodies tinged with a bit of Manchester danceability and shoegaze experimentation. Some of
the Primitives' more "pop" songs are a bit too straightforward and bland, but the majority of
Lovely is well-written enough to make up for the occasional lapse into plainness. The album is at its best when the band departs from its pop sound --
the Jesus and Mary Chain-inspired noise of "Spacehead" and "Stop Killing Me," or the Eastern-sounding "Shadow," with its sitar and backwards vocals, stand out as some of the more artistically worthwhile tracks. The
Primitives, however, are more about writing hooky pop songs than making great artistic strides;
Lovely's most memorable tracks are built around P.J. Court's simple, jangly guitar lines and Tracey's sweet, melodic vocals. If one can look past the fact that their brand of Brit-pop sounds a bit dated, the
Primitives are a consistently exciting listen. ~ Nitsuh Abebe