Funland were one of several Dallas, TX combos (along with the Toadies, Hagfish, etc) to be plucked from the
Deep Ellum circuit in the wake of Nirvana's meteoric rise to the top of the alt-rock food chain. Unlike most of their scene cohorts, they didn't boast much of an indie pedigree, and in fact, I believe
Sweetness was their first proper release. More power pop than grunge, Funland's linear yet satisfying modus operandi went hand in hand with one of their contemporaries, Best Kissers in the World (who have been on a
reissue spree of late, but I digress). From what I recall, "City of Wet Angels" and "Fall Away" both received moderate airplay, but the ep failed to catch fire and Arista passed on releasing a full length by the quartet. Kind of a shock, since all the ingredients seemed to fall perfectly into place here. The concluding "Obligatory Cover (For the Kids)" is a medley of Air Supply's "Making Love Out of Nothing at All" and "Lost in Love," which as far as I'm concerned didn't do "the kids" much of a favor, at least not the one typing this. Funland at least had the good sense to commission
Hate! comic book scribe,
Peter Bagge to illustrate the striking album sleeve.
In 1995 the independently issued
The Funland Band, album hit the pavement, but it's abrasive bent rivaled that of an Archers of Loaf record, and as such, was a pretty far cry from
Sweetness.
01. City of Wet Angels
02. Fall Away
03. Drop of a Hat
04. Sack Hop
05. Hate Thing
06. Amarillo
07. Obligatory Cover (For The Kids)
https://rapidshare.com/files/886057171/funland_sweetness.rar
