THE WEBSTIRS - Radio Racket
Ginger/USA
The latest release from Webstirs is a model of consistency, and one can take that as either a plus or minus depending on your listening practices. Right from the start, the guitars lead the charge, but harmonies, handclaps, and good crunchy pop abound. All 12 tracks are very listenable, and although you probably won't be reaching for the skip button, you may not find the one or two killer cuts that define the disc for the future.Two cuts that come close to standing above the rest are 'Poor Norman' with its Splitsville meets Jellyfish undertones, and 'Invincible' which draws heavily on early Who. The first few times through, other songs stand out such as the 80's influenced 'Little Vietnam' and 'St. Hildegarde' with its subtle ska beat. When all is said and done, and the disc sinks into your memory, what you have is a damn good listening experience from top to bottom.
Top Cuts: Princeton, Poor Norman, St. Hildegarde.
SCOTT PAZUR (7)
[Fresh Ears Review]
The Webstirs have put together a collection of songs that have definitive instantaneous affects, and at the same time seem to have the durability to bring the listener back again and again, for play after play. Much like the now defunct Gladhands, RADIO RACKET knows how to borrow (and not steal) its influences, and comes at you with 12 sprightly tunes driven by equal doses of invigorating guitars, and bouncy keyboard magic, that never let's up. At times the vibe plays in the same sandbox as art-pop stalwarts like City Boy, Elton John and even a bit of 10cc, but never loses its power-pop sensibilities a la Joe Jackson, Dave Edmunds, Costello, and even XTC. Toss in a little 90's power punch, and some classic 70's AM indulgencies many of the songs expose, and the result is an amazing amount of versatility within each individual track, let alone on the album itself. Which is ultimately its greatest strength. For instance the fabby 'Poor Norman' may have a light pub-pop body, but a 10cc-ish intro and middle 8 counterbalance the scales. While the surging 'St.Hildegarde' is sorta Smash Mouth meets Edmunds, dabbed with a bit of Splitsville. And on it goes, as diverse energies change from verse to chorus to bridge, seamlessly. Both of the acts lead vocalists work in tandem wonderfully with the groups lush, but not overdone, backing vocals, without nary a notice. And as for the disc's filler songs......don't worry, there aren't any! Turn this Racket up LOUD!
M.J.O'BRIEN (8)