#66 LISTENING POST DISCOVERY
1980 Housekeeping
Code Blue
Code Blue
Genre: Skinny Tie Rock
4.75 out of 5 (Might go to 5. It’s pretty damned good)
Highlights:
Modern Times
Face to Face
Somebody Knows
Other End of Town
Paint By Numbers
It’s 1980. The era of the nerd in skinny tie has peaked the year before. 1979 was such a great year for the “New Wave” of artists. But, as with any genre, it has to wane.
This album is part of that wave and the only thing holding them back is a hit. “Somebody Knows” gets close to what they should be but it’s not the hit it should be. However, it sounds a lot like one of my favorite tracks by The Andersons, “Symbiosis”, a phenomenal track and while they aren’t the same, they could be cousins.
“The Need” could have fit nicely in The Knack’s oeuvre.
Truth is, they close the record with their most dynamic track and the one that should have bene up top. “Paint By Numbers” could have been a Power Pop hit in 1978-79 and mayyyyyybe 1980. It’s delicious. But they didn’t put it out as a single, I guess.
Which is a damned shame because these guys write tight, taught, excellent little pop rock candies.
I even love the faux reggae of “Burning Bridges”. And the pusillanimous assertion of Other End of Town.
This is a dynamite Power Pop album.
These guys were the deal. What happened???
https://open.spotify.com/album/0QMXeMF3OAF41q35GJvKiR?si=3rseXIgzTiWWRP1mx4DKAQ
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