Casper & the Cookies Press

But really, what sells Casper & the Cookies is their phenomenal stage presence. Though this was probably the regular amount of people for a bar show, the Athens natives played as if they were sold out at Madison Square Garden. There was constant jumping, keyboards being ripped off the stand and played from the lap, a guitar being handed off to an animated spectator as the lead singer threw himself onto the ground, all while sweat trickled down a group of smiling faces underneath the lime light. By the end of the show, it was clear that this is a band that stops at nothing to engage their audience, and it was well worth the cover I paid to enjoy their musical offerings.
-Reax Magazine (6/15/07)

Faring fabulously was the Apples’ opening act Casper & the Cookies. With their caustic lyrics and chipper demeanor (“Sid from Central Park”) the false-eyelash-wearing quartet came off smarmily precocious; like someone rolled the entire cast of The Royal Tenenbaums film into one band. But some razor-sharp guitar parts, a few off-kilter harmonies, noisy keyboards, and neatly compact tunes that blossomed with quickly complex bridges (“Kiss a Friend”) made Casper best in show.
-The Philadelphia Inquirer (2/19/07)

Georgia’s Casper and the Cookies opened with a set that made a good case for serving dessert before the main course, thanks in large part to the wide-eyed delivery of frontman Jason NeSmith. While not related to Mike Nesmith -- the capital “S” emphasizes that -- the singer did a fine job of injecting a bit of Monkee-like spirit into the band’s keyboard-driven pop songs.
— Variety

... In fact, if The Apples in Stereo hadn’t been so goddamn exciting, Casper’s Cookies would have stolen the show. I’ll take Casper & The Cookies’ charming, exuberant, multi-effects-pedal pop any day and consider the eyeshadow a bonus.
— Tiny Mix Tapes (2/15/07)

I was pleased to note their ability to recreate their recorded sound in the live setting. They had a great sense of theatrics and performance (lead singer Jason Nesmith and the overly enthusiastic keyboard/multi-instrumentalist were both wearing glittery fake eyelashes) and everyone on stage looked like they were having a great time
— The Bomb Shelter blog (2/23/07)

Athens, Georgia band Casper and The Cookies dress like a glammed up 60’s psych-pop outfit with their stage setup with multi-coloured balloons and floral dornments. At the very least the 3 male/1 female band did get my attention. Fortunately, they had the songs to back it up.
— For the Record blog (Canada) Platforms

...the first band, casper and the cookies, went on. and i was completely blown away. i admit, the first time i heard them was just the day before. but they are fucking good, people. seriously.
— Quixotic Goat blog

I think many bands today find themselves compared to one band or another, but this group defies comparison. It isn’t their music that sets them apart, it’s their stage act. The whole group is very animated, and they seemed quite comfortable on stage even as an opening act.
— Miss the Signpost blog

Plus, few touring indie acts possess the Cookies’ driven playfulness and exceptional instrumental skill, both of which contributed to a riveting performance.
— The Cleveland Free Times

A fine power-pop band lead by former Of Montreal member Jason NeSmith, the Athens, Georgia quartet fashion their stellar arrangements around singer NeSmith’s petulent vocal stylings, balancing preciousness with experimental sounds and irrepressible spirit. 7/10
— Gary Knight, Under the Radar

The band has a garage pop sound but keeps things interesting since they are not ashamed of their past and are not snooty about their experimental leanings. They also infuse the same-old same-old drum, bass, guitar archetype with frenetic tambourine playing, a tiny toy melodica, the eye makeup of Kevin Barnes, the wardrobe of Dressy Bessy, sincerity and a comfortable stage presence.
— The Oberlin Review (2/16/07)

...the older I get the less patience I have and the more I pay too much attention to a band’s name, which is exactly the reason for my delayed departure to the venue. Without hearing one note of their music I had already written Casper & The Cookies off as a band that I wouldn’t like. Upon walking into the High Noon Saloon in the middle of Casper & The Cookies set I was instantly aware of the mistake I had made and wondered how many songs my rush to judgment had cost me. Luckily, the band triumphantly poured through a handful of selections before exiting the stage to a widely impressed crowd.
— Muzzle of Bees blog (2/7/07)

The band of the hour, however, was unquestionably Casper and the Cookies, who brought a degree of unabashed rock pomposity that far outsized the tiny Tavern stage. Things really got crazy when members from the band Antibalas, which was performing in the Ballroom, literally ran in to catch the rest of the Casper set after finishing their own show. The presence of the Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra and its accompanying fans nearly tripled the size of the crowd. Its saxophonist jumped onstage to improvise with Casper for a few numbers, and wild antics ensued. At the climax of the evening, Casper’s tiny glammed-out frontman brought everyone out on the floor and then grabbed them by the face during his intense rendition of “Sweet Transvestite” from The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
— The Cleveland Free Times (5/9/07)

The Optimist’s Club, a very strong, power-pop album with inklings of the avant-garde, delivers from beginning to end. [It] is a wonderful recording full of texture and experimentation that never leaves the listener behind. Fans of Wilco’s Yankee Hotel Foxtrot will probably take to this album, as well as anyone who enjoys a bit of colour added to catchy songs. The future’s looking good for Casper & The Cookies.
— Left Hip Magazine

The Optimist’s Club, is chock full of soaring boy-girl harmonies, feel-good guitar riffs, and all the radiance of full-spectrum lamp.
— Allmusic.com (Spotlight for week of 6/11/06)

Casper & The Cookies are simultaneously your and your parents’ new favorite band. The Cookies manage to throw something in the mix for literally everyone while maintaining the feel of an album from start to finish, which is no small feat.
— Harmonium (7/06)

You always read the cliche “infectious melodies” when critics are talking about pop groups like this, but once again, it holds true. It is hard to see someone not really enjoying this record.
— My Old Kentucky Blog (6/06)

With equal parts joy and invention, The Optimist’s Club is a pop art gem.
— Optical Atlas (6/7/06)

They do an excellent job of keeping things upbeat and so sincerely pop in lyrics and sound that it’s somewhat timeless in its musicality.
— Exclaim! Magazine (6/8/06)

The Optimist’s Club excels on multiple levels in that it’s meticulously produced (not meaning overproduced), incorporating various techniques and sounds that only the studio-savvy of us will pick up on. Casper & the Cookies sophomore record is just really excellent, ornate pop music.
— Silent Uproar (8/22/06)

“Believe it or not: Casper & the Cookies’ Optimist’s Club feels like Brian Wilson’s Smile.”
— Urb Magazine (9/06)