Spygenius “Rhizomania!”
Spygenius occupies a pretty unique corner of the power pop universe. There’s a definite Colin Moulding (XTC) influence in their DNA, but this is no exercise in imitation. The dry English wit, acerbic humor, and vintage, often elaborate arrangements are all part of the appeal, backed by musicianship that never takes the easy way out. They have a knack for making complicated music sound deceptively effortless.
“Watch Like No One’s Dancing” is about as close to straightforward sunshine pop as Spygenius gets, with a warm, bouncing melody that makes for an inviting opener. Then comes “But Is It Powerpop?,” which pretty much sums up the band’s playful defiance of genre labels. Think Schrödinger’s cat, only here the question is whether there’s a dead cat on the table or a power pop song hiding in plain sight. You get the idea.
Psychedelia and prog tendencies creep into the arrangements throughout, and “Alone Again, Orwell” and “I Don’t Understand It” offer plenty of pop sensibility amid the more adventurous twists. “Desire Paths” features a lovely pastoral chorus and a gentle nudge to pick up a book rather than surrender to the techno-daze of modern life. Meanwhile, “Mr. Blue Sky Thinking Blues” takes a decidedly less enthusiastic view of corporate optimism, delivering a wonderfully sarcastic shove to all that positive-thinking nonsense. But the real standout for me is “Horizon Shine,” where overlapping harmonies and shimmering guitars come together in a terrific display of everything this band does so well. This is easily my favorite Spygenius album in quite some time. Highly recommended!
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The Guest List “Something Real”
The Guest List are a Manchester UK band that are supposed to be the next big thing catering to Gen Z listeners’ nostalgia, with influences like Arctic Monkeys, The Smiths, and Radiohead. The title track kicks things off with a great guitar hook and a sharp take on social media’s obsession with outrage and controversy. It’s a catchy single that’s gone viral and deserves your attention. “Ruine” follows with a catchy alt-rock punch, while “You Should Care” delivers one of the album’s strongest choruses, complete with gorgeous harmonies.
The band shifts gears on “Mundane” with a very Radiohead-like guitar approach with lyrics about the grind of everyday life. Another winner here is “Slow Down Sally,” a very epic Oasis-sized singalong. Vocalist Cai Alty is particularly impressive, showing real range in his songwriting. He tackles everything from mental health and abusive relationships to climate change and digital culture without sacrificing melody. Several tracks appeared on earlier EPs and singles, so longtime followers won’t find much new. Still, the quality of the material is hard to argue with. Keep an eye on these guys. Highly recommended!