At first glance,
the Exploding Hearts
seem like mere revivalists. From the pink and yellow cover to their 1977 looks to their influences, it would be easy to dismiss them. But you need to hold the phone a minute and listen, because
are the best
punk
band to come along in a long time, maybe since the original wave. About those influences, here is a partial list: the early
Clash
if
Mick Jones
wrote all the songs and
the Only Ones
or
Buzzcocks
at their emotional best, but also classic
power pop
sounds like a (much) tougher
Rubinoos
,
rock & roll
like a tighter and sober
New York Dolls
, and the
lo-fi
approach of
Billy Childish
.
Guitar Romantic
is an amazingly raw and melodic debut, fully realized and original despite the obvious debt to the
past. It is difficult to pinpoint just what it is about the band that helps overcome their idol worship. Maybe it is the love and authenticity that they pour into the worship, the raw production that smashes the guitars and bass into a whirling mess of tuneful noise, or the wonderfully tough but tender vocals. Most likely it is the songwriting. Too many bands that seek to re-create a sound or an era don't have the tunes to back it up. Not the
Hearts
. Every song on
makes a bid to be the best on the album:
"I'm a Pretender"
is a jaunty kick in the head,
"Sleeping Aides & Razorblades"
is an ultra-catchy
doo wop
-inspired
ballad
with a brilliant guitar line,
"Thorns in Roses"
is a rollicking '50s-influenced
"Throwaway Style"
melds a lovelorn lyric to a
Motown
beat (the same one
the Strokes
heisted for
"Last Nite"
) to great effect. There isn't a weak song here, not a single one that isn't on par with the best
punk-pop
. If you don't have this album and have even the slightest affinity for poppy
rock
or punky
pop/rock
, you are missing out on something special. ~ Tim Sendra