The always reliable Stephen Butler and crew known as Smash Palace returns with a vengeance on “7.” From the Revolver styled cover to the opening riffs of classic power pop of “Win It All” you know what you’re getting. The melodic “How Can You Say?”echoes the past without sounding at all dated. The brilliant “Holding Out For You” has the measured beats and harmonies that resembles a Badfinger ballad. The descending chords of “All In Love Is Fair” leads a great Crowded House-Beatles hybrid track that builds and builds with cool guitar breaks between each chorus.
The vibrant energy of “Here it Comes Again” is another winning track, Butler’s vocal croon is similar to Tom Petty mixed with Joey Molland here. The Kinks-like riffs punctuate “Dead End Street”- it sounds utterly modern yet timeless. It’s an invigorating rocker that is a pleasantly balanced by the mid-tempo “Secret Life.” Every track shines, with no weak moments here, so you are getting the band at the peak of it’s powers. A easy nominee for top ten of 2010.
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