Album Notes

A breakup record, Clean is a mighty fine one, introspective and moving. Most of Steinhart's songs are catchy, delivered in his unique voice, complemented by simple yet effective instrumentation, including the occasional vibes or crying trumpet. What becomes apparent after a while is that Steinhart has forgone the traditional rock and roll format in favor of a rich, quasi-EZ sound one usually finds with th likes of St. Etienne, which is to Clean's enormous benefit.
Hitch Magazine


David Steinhart Clean (Stonegarden)
reviewed in issue #214, 4/2/01

Now, there's no more room for subterfuge. David Steinhart, the main songwriter behind Pop Art and the driving force behind Smart Brown Handbag, has finally recorded a "solo" album.

Of course, the songs here sound more than a little like those that Steinhart penned for and played with those two bands. Only makes sense, when you think about it. And so I have to listen to a set of sparkling, smart and, well, clean pop songs.

By clean, I mean that Steinhart doesn't clutter either his lyrics or his melodies. The lines are straight and pretty (hardly stark). Very few people can write songs like Steinhart, and this album is at least as good as any other collection of his I've heard.

I use the pronoun there advisedly. Yes, Steinhart came into his own as an artist a long time ago. He has finally decided to put his name above the title. The results are similar to previous efforts. Steinhart, quite simply, is a master at the pop form. All I can do is revel in the beauty.
Aiding and Abetting