Redd Kross “Redd Kross”
Jeff and Steve McDonald have been doing their brand of power pop for over 45 years, and have transformed themselves from snot-nosed young punks to elder statesmen who can rock and roll all night (and party every day!) This new album carries on from 2019’s Beyond the Door and raises the ante. It’s a massive 18 tracks of their most intense and captivating music to date. Pulsating with vitality, crackling with intensity, and chiming with sweet harmonies, it shows a conspicuous dedication to songcraft.
On glam rockers like “Candy Coated Catastrophe” and “Stunt Queen,” the brothers strive for a heavy stadium sound that is on par with their best songs. On poppier numbers, their Beatlesque influences pop through, like “Good Times Propaganda Band” with its swirling bass line. There are simply too many highlights to list, and the band does vent about rockstar life in “What’s in it for you?,” “Way Too Happy,” and “Terrible Band,” which are both catchy and lyrically interesting. However, the band doesn’t slow down the tempo or tone much. Even power ballads like “The Main Attraction” build up quickly to loud harmonies. Still, this remains a triumph and gets a nod for inclusion in my year-end top ten list. Highly Recommended.
Sparkle*Jets UK “Box of Letters”
Sometimes the stars align with a power pop band that hasn’t been heard from in a while. After 2002’s Bamboo Lounge, it looked like the band was done. Even though the album was planned and recorded in 2006, bad luck prevented it from getting finished. But the band got back together for last year’s cover collection, Best of Friends, proving that magic was still there. The core lineup of singer-guitarist Susan West, multi-instrumentalist Michael Simmons, and bassist James Knight are joined by Joel Valder (drums) and Tisha Boonyawatana (keys, vocals). They all sound like they’re having fun here.
Opening with a cover of The Zombies’ “This Will Be Our Year,” it’s a richly layered tune with many impressive sonic details. “Goodbye X3” and “Love Burn” showcase Susan’s vocal personality perfectly, and then we get the Jellyfish-like “Princess Needy” with its bouncy chorus and the disco break midway through. More highlights include “I Can’t Wait for Summer,” a beautiful Beach Boys pastiche, and the title track “Box of Letters, ” a grower that builds on sweet nostalgia and is so catchy. Plenty of gems are sprinkled here, and other than the ‘80s lounge pop of “Where’s The Moment,” it’s all killer, no filler, and highly recommended!
