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Critic's Review
Michael Sutton, All Music Guide
Since Yesterday is basically an extended version of Strawberry Switchblade's 1985 self-titled debut. However, this isn't a reissue of the original album with bonus filler. Like the Japanese edition of Colourfield's Virgins and Philistines CD, Since Yesterday improves upon its predecessor. It doesn't change the fact that Strawberry Switchblade is a band that people will either love or hate; the little-girl harmonies of Rose McDowall and Jill Bryson repelled as many listeners as they attracted during the '80s. But Strawberry Switchblade were often misunderstood. Beneath the group's sugarcoated synthesizers and Lolita vocals were usually sad, personal lyrics that resembled angst-ridden entries from a teen diary. Even the band's name combined something sweet ("strawberry") with something lethal ("switchblade"). At times the group resembled Altered Images; like them, Strawberry Switchblade disguised their misery underneath bouncy, danceable pop. There's much to love on Since Yesterday. Strawberry Switchblade was already a fine LP, but Since Yesterday adds their hard-to-find cover of Dolly Parton's "Jolene." The ladies transform the country classic into a club favorite with pulsating disco keyboards; it is irresistibly cute. Moreover, "Trees and Flowers" and "Michael Who Walks by Night" are too pretty to have been left off their first -- and only -- LP.
