BILLY AND THE LOST BOYS
Yet Why Not Say What Happened
Lost Records
· The complete opposite of the sophomore slump. You can check them out Thursday, May 25 at Broken City.
It’s rare that a young band makes such a big leap between their first and second album, but Billy and the Lost Boys are like that kid in elementary school who had a growth spurt over the summer – they’re bigger, more confident and you would think twice before messing with them.
That’s not to say that their debut, Breaking Down the Barriers that Break Down Your Music, wasn’t worth the attention it got, but this followup has an immediacy that was only hinted at the first time out. The guitars are massive, the definition between instruments is clearer and the songs are fast without being forced. At the same time that Billy has streamlined the material, she has also learned to embrace the singalong chorus. The album still has some stuttering guitar and off-kilter rockers, but for the most part this is a collection of power-pop summertime anthems.
The best part of Yet Why Not Say What Happened? is that Billy seems to be growing up. She hasn’t lost her earnest lyrical approach, but she is much more adept at twisting words into intelligent and potent turns of phrase, giving the songs a universal appeal. All the touring has paid off, too, because her vocals have developed a smooth confidence that is impossible to ignore. When you combine that with the band’s ferocious edge, you have a record that grabs you from the opening note and doesn’t let go until the final cymbal crash.
|
Copyright ©2006 FFWD. All rights reserved.