THE 88 Self-titled (88/Rocket Science) As the years progress, I find it more difficult to properly describe the music of a band that has its roots in the 60s or 70s. Nowadays, the youngsters don’t even seem to recognize bands from the 90s never mind 20/30 years before. Which is a bit of a problem with LA power pop quartet The 88 as the band is quite obviously heavily in debt to the seminal works of the Kinks. Not surprising as the 88 has been participating recently in worldwide tours as both opening and backing band for Ray Davies of The Kinks! So for you kiddies out there, similar bands (you might know and recognize) would include the likes of Jet, the Strokes, the Hives and The Vines although I would say that the 88 adopt a more classicist style than the aforementioned outfits. Also, the 88s reverence of the Kinks extends from their early garage-fuelled material to the country-inflected songs of Muswell Hillbillies (in the 70s). Not that I’m suggesting that the 88 are purely derivative but astute listeners will know where the inspiration comes from. Consisting of vocalist/guitarist Keith Slettedahl, pianist Adam Merrin, bassist Todd O’Keefe, and drummer Anthony Zimmitti, the 88′s eponymous fourth album is chock full of infectious melodies and irresistible rhythms where songs like the muscular Closer to the Sun, the Knack-channeling They Ought To See You Now, the Elvis Costello-esque country balladic As Far As I Can See, the psychedelic stomping Hold On and the rustic Acoustic Takes It Away, recommend itself highly to lovers of classic pop-rock. The 88 (the album) will be available exclusively through iTunes for two weeks starting September 14th. The record will be available at retail and through all digital outlets starting September 28th.
Posted on: Fri, 28 Jun 2013 19:57:12 +0000
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