The Wigs "File Under: Pop Vocal"

Jim Cushinery, Marty Ross, and Bobby Tews have finally arrived. The story of The Wigs is a bit of an west coast legend. Formed in Milwaukee and after building a local fanbase in 1982, they piqued the interest of CBS Records and recorded a shining gem of an album, but ended up with infamous manager Stanley Polley (Badfinger fans take note). As the paperwork was being drawn up to commence recording of The Wigs’ major label debut, CBS became embroiled in a hostile takeover attempt and the album was allowed to die on the vine with a limited release. Now, on the 25th anniversary of “File Under: Pop Vocal’s” release, Marty and Jim have undertaken a remix of the original tapes, for a first-time ever release on CD. 

And if you loved the eighties and that era’s skinny tie power pop sound, The Wigs are a gift from the music gods to you. They traded in melodies that could be extremely sweet, yet delivered with too much muscle to be simply lumped in with other more saccharine power pop outfits of the time. Opening with “I Can See It Now” it has the sharp rhythms and fast drumbeats that fit in with the classic sounds of The Records, The Beat and Pezband. The following “180 degrees” has a great looping melody and a great slow middle eight that brings to mind The Raspberries or The Toms. Next “Susie’s Got A Problem” with it’s Costello-like vocal approach and references to “Elvis, Beatles ,DC-5” it even has guitar breaks that recall Buddy Love. The album is relentless with the style and quality of it’s songwriting. It even takes a Rockabilly detour with “First Time” that would give Brian Setzer a run for his money. The songs continue with a near perfect energy booster in “Tijuana” and then takes a breath with the ballad “Popular Girl” complete with wonderful harmonies in the chorus.  Then a rousing cover of “Mony, Mony” that made me forget that Billy what’s-his-name. The tune “It’s Over” gets the Rick Springfield meets The Knack sound down as well. The guitar work on each song is some of the best I’ve heard in a long time, and no filler either. That’s 14 tracks of greatness here, and it makes my top ten list of 2009. The quality of music has been so good recently, I may need to expand the top ten this year, as Roy Scheider mentioned in Jaws, “You’re gonna need a bigger boat. “

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The “toot-my-own-horn” department: The Powerpopaholic has been honored by Filter Magazine, in the FMA Website Spotlight.

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