The Pink Spiders “Freakazoid”
This is a Nashville band that wants to make a bold statement. Influences from power pop, glam, and indie rock are all mixed in a musical stew. “Gold Confetti” is a great start, with its upbeat, sing-along chorus dripping in attitude. But even better is the follow-up single “Let’s Go Home” with its super energetic hooks, and its quiet verse builds to a catchy chorus. The guitars here bring it all together as the band uses classic song structures (that are out of vogue today) to form something quite unique, and “Devotion” is another winner with its Cars-like synths.
Next, lead singer Matt Friction sings “Can’t Stop Letting You Down” and seems to channel Marc Bolan without the falsetto. The band wants this to be a party album, as each hook takes a winding stylistic shift in the second half. The band can go “hard rock” anthem with ease on “Stoned To The Bone,” and the next few songs go straight party rock, and you’ll never get bored here, and no filler. The closest analogy I can come up with is Sweet meets Panic! At The Disco. Yes, it could’ve used a ballad to break things up, but this deserves attention and is highly recommended for sure.
Dwight Twilley “The Best of Dwight Twilley The Tulsa Years 1999-2016 Vol 1”
Dwight Tilley had a revived sense of purpose after releasing several collections of rarities (Between The Cracks) at the end of the 20th century. He began the journey to elder statesman status in power pop with 1999’s Tulsa and continued to be very productive for the following 15 years. This new compilation of Twilley’s later work proves he was not only a great songwriter but also remained a potent force in melodic rock and roll.
Nothing in the collection sounds dated, as it’s timeless rock. Check out these new Twilley classics; “It’s Hard To Be A Rebel,” “No Place Like Home,” and “Speed of Light.” With 20 tracks there are plenty of gems to choose from.
If you’re a fan of Dwight Twilley’s work, The Best of Dwight Twilley: The Tulsa Years 1999-2016 Vol 1 is a must-have. There are previously unreleased songs from albums like Tulsa, The Luck, 47 Moons, Green Blimp, Soundtrack, and Always. Dwight’s 12-page booklet with photos and notes about his inspiration and the songs’ backgrounds is included. Highly Recommended.