The Strange Boys – Live Music

Posted by Chris Kearney in Reviews | 0 comments

The Strange Boys
Live Music (Rough Trade)
6/10

The Strange Boys released their third album in as many years last week, a prolific rate of releases which has seen them avoid the hyped anticipation experienced by many bands for albums two and three. Live Music packs in 14 songs in a little over 45 minutes, proving the 6 piece band from Austin, Texas haven’t lost their fondness for simple, classic pop songwriting.

Instantly noticeable withing the first three tracks is how much more polished Live Music is to it’s predecessors – 2009′s Strange Boys and Girl’s Club and 2010′s Be Brave. The affable, stray dog whine of singer Ryan Sambol remains as the band’s most instantly identifiable component, yet the chaotic and raucous sound displayed on the first two albums has been toned down to a more polished, honed and in places more mature sound. The band’s allure on Strange Boy’s and Girl’s Club and Be Brave was the innocent, at times naive garage racket which gave those 3 minute pop songs such character – on Live Music they come close to losing the attitude and feeling which has gained them cult status among their fan base in an increasingly bland and characterless indie-guitar landscape. Doueh almost slips into easy listening, FM soft rock territory until Sambol’s vocals save the song from such a fate, while Walking Two by Two is a mildly 1950′s American prom-night-esque number which struggles along tamely. Opener Me and You is a far better example of Strange Boys more polished offerings, while You and Me is a beautifully written acoustic song which compliments Sambol’s innocent, child-like drawl perfectly. Punk’s Pajamas, Omnia Boa and Mama’s Shelter continue with the template set on the first two albums, while Over the River and Through the Woulds, has a case for being the album’s best moment, though that title is sewn up by You and Me.

The one thing the album is lacking is a big moment – the chaotic, call and response sing along on the title track from Be Brave or the dark menace of For the Lack of a Better Face on Girl’s Club. Live Music is missing one of those standout moments and as a result it stumbles through the 14 tracks, never offending nor inspiring.