After the demise of
Rollerskate Skinny, drummer Jimi Shields (brother of
My Bloody Valentine's Kevin Shields) turned to a singer/songwriter/arranger with the band
Lotus Crown. Much of
Chokin' on the Jokes lacks the spacey experimentalism of both
Rollerskate Skinny's work and that of former bandmate Ken Griffin's
Kid Silver project, opting instead for a more conventional major-label Brit-rock/psychedelic feel that occasionally comes across like a darker, less pop-oriented
Boo Radleys. Often enough, however, the band lightens up on its rock influences in favor of more interesting guitar sounds and arrangements, resulting in a polished, dreamy midtempo rock sound that's highly effective. ~ Nitsuh Abebe