|
This
could easily be the album that starts the next wave of widespread pop
acceptance. With works by Matthew Sweet and Oasis paving the way and
preparing the mass market psyche, the time might be just right. Where
Sweet and Oasis are really pop outfits disguised with layers of fuzz
and feedback or nouveau-retro British invasion sensibilities respectively,
P. Hux promises and delivers hooky, highly melodic, high energy pop
at its purest with a hard enough edge to quash all possible complaints
that "Pop istoo wimpy."
This wall-of-sound pop attack is so energetic the average Joe (or Joan)
isn't even going to realize they're listening to pop until someone points
it out. P. Hux's sound is more than a rocked up version of Huxley's
melody driven guitar-pop--though if you're familiar with his solo work
thinking of this music in those terms will give you an accurate idea
of what to expect. All the gorgeous and inventive melodic twists and
hooks are here, and are used with compelling relentlessness. Likewise,
the intelligent, poetic, and sometimes sarcastic lyrics that are a Huxley
trademark are well represented. The big difference is a "too big to
just be a three piece" melodic barrage powered by a rhythm section aptly
described by Parthenon, "These guys are so good I could just stand in
the middle of the studio and chew gum and the songs would still rock."
Drummer Gordon Townsend and Bassist Rob Miller (both former Tommy Conwell
members) are incredibly talented guys who've contributed their musical
influences to the grab bag that P. Hux draws inspiration from. This
band follows in the tradition of all the best bands to grace our turntables:
the sum of its parts is, simply put, kick-ass. Even when they throttle
back on slightly slower ballady tunes like Keep From Crying, Every Minute,
and Stay Where You Are they still rock. With each listen of the disc
I find a new favorite track which suggests that I've gone schizo or
they are all great (I prefer the latter explanation). There is so much
to listen to here that if I tried to describe all the "neat" parts it
would be a disservice. It would take pages to do this disc justice and
if you took the time to read my rantings you'd have to wait that much
longer to hear the album. I'll spare you the verbiage--just go on out
to your favorite music store and get a copy, you owe it to yourself.
BACK
TO REVIEWS AND PRESS...
|
