One look at Briggs' drummer faces par excellence lightened the mood. On the reals, though, drummers are a breed apart, especially if they're good. The Zim-Zims are a rhythmically tight machine, sounding like a harder rocking version of the Feelies in their
less-contemplative moments."
"Local Live, Zim-Zims at Hemlock Tavern"
by Duncan Scott Davidson
San Francisco Bay Guardian
5 July 2004
"In places, the way Mann's voice soars and flutters is reminiscent of the late Jeff Buckley's final recordings with Tom Verlaine. But it's his guitar work, backed by Mike Talbot on bass and Blair Trigg on drums, that gives the music the kind of abraded texturing that some people call post-punk--think Yo La Tengo uncomfortably transplanted to Creedence Clearwater country." (read the rest of the article)
"Swell Maps" by Jackson Griffith
Sacramento News & Review
30 October 2003
"The Zim-Zims make that kind of boyish pop full of crunchy 'n' jangly guitars and lilting slightly melted male vocals. Sorta like a cross between Beulah, Nothing Painted Blue, and Young Fresh Flowers. The first few snappy songs'll have you bouncin' around your living room in no time. They throw in a trippy twist ot two -- reverby tremeloed guitar, or a graceful segue into a slower tempo -- every so often for good measure. A dandy debut. (the whole review)
Aquarius Records, San Francisco
26 March 2004
"Proficient, fuzzy, tremelo-y chunks of pop... the driving "We're Not Waiting" (the disc's high point) has a lovely, thick hook that, coupled with the reverby goodness of "The Same" and the instrumental grind of "Dazed", indicate that the Zim-Zims have promise to fufill."
SPONIC ZINE - Erik Pepple
issue #18 - 21 June 2004
"A heavily textured album, layered with atmopheric effects and, at times, verging on some sort of post-modern psychedelia.
...grabbing the listener by the throat in "Lover", the subdued strains of "Judy MC" and the torrid soundscapes of "Dazed", leading into the atmospheric reverberations of "Garden". On a beautiful last note, the album closes with the Marquezian stylings of "Macondo, S.A," lyrically inspired by the novel 100 Years of Solitude (complete review)
"Music Review: The Zim-Zims" by Dan Glendening
The California Aggie
04 November 2003
"As I walk through the door with local celebrities Dan G. the Poet and Valerie G. the Artist, I feel the vibrations from the amplifiers shaking the house, making it pound like a heart an amphetamines. And the beat is because The Zim-Zims are blaring. Jake Mann is howling into the microphone as I go down the stairs to stare into a packed basement floor of onlookers. The voyeurs of Rock and Roll. I rush into the crowd, gripping a forty ounce of Mickey's with my fingers and tapping the floor with my toes. When I hear The Zim-Zims and their certain brand of twenty-first century Rock and Roll, I turn into a dancing fool as easy as a werewolf under a full moon." (whole rant)
"Turtle House Report" by Rob Roy
KDViations
September 2003
