Two of my favorite musical flavors — power-pop and guitar solos — rarely get mixed together. For some reason, power-pop acts think solos should max-out at eight bars — or maybe their guitarists just aren't good enough to exceed that. John Squire was good enough. In '96, after the collapse of Stone Roses, he formed The Seahorses with a bunch of unknowns from New York. The tunes are grabby, the vocals punchy, with Oasis-like harmonies, but it's Squire's guitar work — knotty and dexterous — that adds the extra spice. On "Love is the Law," he even cuts loose for a four-minute flurry that leads to a big Cream-style finish. As far as I can discern, Do It Yourself was The Seahorses' only album. To call it an obscure gem would be an understatement.
