Aquarium Rescue Unit - In A Perfect World (1994)

The Aquarium Rescue Unit released In a Perfect World in 1994. The album is packed with some great jams and beautiful sounds, but average bluesy rock songs. This album, however, was popular with jam band fans, and led to the band's appearances at the H.O.R.D.E. Festival. In a Perfect World probably translated well live, but on record the band falls flat. The funky "How Tight's Your Drawers" has some awesome organ and flute parts, but the lyrics are pedestrian, as they are on most of the record. Every song on this CD sounds similar and, upon completion, leaves little imprint. There is a line in "Swallows" that describes the album well: "There we go again, searching for another escapade." The Aquarium Rescue Unit is a good example of the technically proficient band whose chops are tangential excursions, not tight songwriting. Bands like Blues Traveler and the Spin Doctors were successful because of their pop instincts. And Phish mixed pop selections with eclectic musicianship. Since the Aquarium Rescue Unit lacks enough of both, their albums make little more than good background music. Track down music by these bands instead: Big Head Todd & the Monsters, Phish, Everything, the Spin Doctors, or Allgood.