By Dan Fitzpatrick, December 2008
Throwing Sparks, Claire Records/Barracuda Sound
Averkiou makes music that makes you want to play air guitar. Don’t get me wrong here – by that, I don’t mean the two-minute unnecessary, self-indulgent, guitar-shredder solo Slash takes after every chorus. In essence, lead singer Matt Brink and Co. want to satisfy the shoegazer in us all – the barrage of fuzzy guitar sound and hazy vocal woos and hoos from the backing vocalists undoubtedly bring to mind My Bloody Valentine. However, you soon come to realize that, more so than MBV, Averkiou is also well-versed in the three-minute pop song – instantly catchy guitar hooks come soaring out of the reverb, calling to mind The Stone Roses on serious steroids.  A year and a half in the making, Throwing Sparks is one of the most spectacular debuts (and hell, one of the best albums, period) to come out of Gainesville in years. At 22 minutes, Throwing Sparks is the musical equivalent of speed – it’s quick, dirty, fun, and over before you know it, but God knows, you’ll be back for more again soon.