“It’s Not You” has an 80’s AOR vibe with its catchy chorus. One of the CD’s strongest tracks is “What Were You Expecting,” with tinges of Blondie marked through a fleshed-out chorus that rises out of the verse unexpectedly. While “Familiar Taste of Poison” definitely sounds 25 years out of date, it’s to the point where it’s so retro as to be new. Speaking of retro, the CD cover is pure 80’s awesomeness. The band is painted in futuristic Mad Max outfits, coupled with a killer logo design.
All retro references aside, Halestorm do not take the music lightly. This is not some band goofing on the worst aspects of old music. And sure the Pitchfork –bowing music snobs will invariably sneer, but they can fawn over the latest Animal Collective CD (which is great), and leave this to hard rock fans.
Halestorm’s marriage of tight, heavy rhythms and catchy melodies remind me of last year’s excellent Black Sun by Ra. The sound is also refreshingly well-produced. It’s devoid of the “hot tracked’ over-produced pablum that record companies are churning out to satisfy the indiscriminate masses. Instead you can actually hear the individual instruments and even when you things crank up, ‘clipping’ is not heard.
Halestorm’s debut is crunching, dirty hard rock that’s as retro in spirit as it is fresh and modern in delivery. This is THE debut rock CD of the year.
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