For those looking for Bill Lloyd to return to the power pop genre, as he did with Set To Pop and Standing On The Shoulders of Giants, the wait is over. The new album Boy King Of Tokyo boasts the strongest tracks I’ve heard from Lloyd, starting with the title track about his years as a “gaijin brat” in Japan, with its trademark jangle and solid hook. The chiming riffs of “Buy On Credit” and the solid harmonies on “Let It Slide” are classic Lloyd. Fans of classic influences like Dave Edmunds, Byrds, and McCartney will just eat this up. The stories here are great too, especially “Com Trol” a humorous, but true tale of corporate rock and selling out.
Bill sounds like he’s having fun on the bar room drawl of “Home Jeeves” with it’s twang and beat similar to “Jumpin’ Jack Flash.” The passion of power pop fans are best described on “The Best Record Ever Made,” and its my favorite here, all about that infectious hook. The country roots tracks are great too, notably the magical “Chet’s Right Hand, Man” done in the Chet Atkins guitar style. No duds, and even the slower tracks like “Where Nobody Cares At All” are full of personality. No reason this shouldn’t be part of my “best of” 2012 list.
