Mosquitos

  • Mosquitos
  • That Was Then, This Is Now! EP (Valhalla) 1985 

New York’s Mosquitos were toiling in relative obscurity when the quintet released this likable 12-inch of Beatlesque ’60s mersey-styled pop. Sort of a junior Smithereens with less songwriting aptitude, the Mosquitos invested the five catchy originals with tuneful spunk, attractive harmonies and rocking charm. Although the reformed Monkees subsequently turned the disc’s remarkably apropos title track into a Top 20 national hit, the Mosquitos have not been heard from since.

[Ira Robbins]