American Lips: Kiss the Void (Ancient Fashion, 2017)
It’s not easy to make a mainstream rock record and have it sound fresh. These guys do a good job of recreating an early ’80s half punk/No Wave kind of thing but with a pop sensibility and plenty of hooks. Ya know, the Knack, early Elvis Costello, Urge Overkill, and the somewhat nutless yet praised out the ass The Strokes. There are many places where it can go wrong — the singer can be a douche, the hooks can be more than familiar as in they bit it (as in somebody else’s music) too hard, the production can water down whatever muscle the band brings to the music.
But that doesn’t happen here. The guitar player is pretty driving here for the style of music and the singer is straight ahead. No Bon Jovi, no posing with his meat stick hanging out, all that shit.
This is 22 minutes of pop punk deliciousness so check it out!
This is for cubicle dwellers and bologna sandwich eaters out there.
Deep In the Music 