Backhand Deals

Album review

In the early '90s, there was a cadre of bands existing just outside of grunge playing a revved-up version of power pop that verged on glam rock, bursting with shiny hooks, ripping guitars, Elton-y piano pounding, and cartoony vocals. Redd Kross, with their pop culture-loving snark; Supergrass, who had boundless energy in their early days; and Sloan, a group who definitely poured too much sugar on the morning cereal -- these were a few of the chief practitioners. Now with Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard, the sound lives on in a new generation. Leading up to 2020's Backhand Deals, the group released an impressive run of glammy, goofy tunes that positioned them as heirs to the power glam bands who came before. The album polishes up their sound a little bit, shaving off some of the looseness of youth in favor of a more considered, grown-up, and sometimes even poignant approach. To that end, a handful of songs, like the swaying "Faking a Living" or the heartstring-tugging power ballad "Yourself," show off a side to the band one might not have expected after hearing "Double Denim Hop." That being said, the bulk of the album does in fact land squarely on the side of rambunctiousness with songs like "New Age Millennial Magic" or "Good Day" bopping along like Nilsson fronting Jellyfish, "Feel the Change" dipping into some "Werewolves of London" feels while adding spangly choruses and properly giddy guitar solos, and the mixtape-worthy "Break Right In" getting a little weird and anthemic and reminiscent of the underrated Irish group the Thrills at their finest. Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard shine the brightest on these songs, when the smoothness of the production is balanced by their tight energy and the tightly wound vocal harmonies are punctured by the wildness of lead singer Tom Rees' delivery. Another step in the direction of propriety may have been one too many; as it stands, Backhand Deals slides right into the corporate power pop timeline with just the right amount of vim and vigor.
© Tim Sendra /TiVo