The Black Mollys are back, and they're ready to kick power pop's ass. The Chicago band, whom we heard from last three years back with Overnight Disgrace, has unleashed a set of 11 heavy rockin' power pop anthems that will get fans of Cheap Trick, Enuff z'Nuff, Butch Walker and others on the heavier side of power pop all a-twitter.
"Complaining", "Erica" and "I'm So Ordinary" set the tone and let you know you're not in sensitive singer-songwriter territory. As much as I like the softer (and less "powerful") side of power pop, it's nice to something to rock out to as well. Still, if you like things dialed down a bit, they do offer you the power ballad "Hollywood", but in what almost seems like penance for the slowdown, they crank the guitars up even louder on the next track, "Girlfriend". But it's not just mindless noise - the harmonies and melodies are there; in fact, "Girlfriend" even throws in a bit of a Beach Boys break at one point during the song. Meanwhile, "All My Life" recalls some of Nirvana's more melodic moments, and "Fake It" takes aim at phonies, both real and perceived, centering around California. And "Gone Away" proves to be one of the more interesting tracks on the disc - ironically, after knocking California, they follow it with this 70sish Laurel Canyon-sounding track.
I've heard on more than one occasion that I tilt to the softer side of power pop, and I plead guilty as charged. But for those who have made that observation somewhat unfavorably, I give you The Black Mollys - and I would say that there's nothing blissful about ignoring this disc.
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