The disclaimer on the liner notes for Pete Gidlund's project Safety First says "Engineered and produced at home on a digital 8 track". My comment to this... "Will someone give this guy a recording budget because the planet needs to hear this stuff!!" It's been stated and it's obvious that this 9 song demo is exactly that, a demo. But what I hear that I don't hear on a lot of demos is potential. Potential that is screaming for a chance to shine. Now don't get me wrong a good song is a good song. There are good if not great songs on this demo. They just need their chance in the sun. I hear Jellyfish, I hear the Pixies, I hear The Cure, I hear Teenage Fanclub etc etc. What I also hear is songs that I want to hear played, performed and recorded ala Jellyfish's Spilt Milk, with a budget! San Francisco's Pete Gidlund and his band of merry men are definite masters of the sugary pop song. I have been to San Francisco a few times for various reasons, next time I go I'll be checking out a Safety First show!! Hopefully I'll also be able to pick up their first full release, perhaps backed by a label with some ears,..YES that's a hint.
