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The Pomps - Indie Rock is Dying

I have felt for a year or so like I was in a music drought in our scene. It's not that there wasn't anything happening, it's just that there wasn't anything exciting happening. Don't get me wrong. There have been some great releases and incredible shows, but it's been kinda ho-hum for a little while. I took a couple years off from the podcast and the blog while I recovered from illness, got married, and had my daughter.

Maybe it was me who was ho-hum, but I feel like I am slowly reanimating when I hear music like what I am about to throw at you.

Now, I'm a Jersey Girl and a Yankee fan, so as hard as it is for me to throw love North, I have to say again and again that Boston kicks us down some amazing music. I will ALWAYS give love to Boston for music. (I hear the food up there is pretty amazing too...) They do not disappoint.

Enter The Pomps.

These Boston cats have a great fusion of reggae, pop, trusty old new wave, and just groove. I was told to call it Island Power Punk? It's seriously fun and honestly, I have been looking for something like this. I heard their record Top of the Pomps a few years back, and I remember seeing their name on shows I was was announcing on the podcast around that time, but they were never nearby so I had not been able to catch them. Dude...MY LOSS! These guys are great! It's just enough pop injected into great dance-able reggae grooves. They have a kind of smiling punk attitude. I love it.



So, my attention was called back to them with their recent release, Indie Rock is Dying. It's got a third wave feel but without all that noise. It's like small club dance ska. In my opinion, the best kind. But it's not ska. It's ska-pop fusion? Who cares. It's fucking GOOD. The title track reminds me of some of the best pop-punk that came out of the 90's, but with a 60's Britpop flavor woven underneath. They have a really great energy. It's infectious! Honestly, this is "throw your gear in the trunk and get in, we are going on an adventure" kind of driving music.

This record has head bopping beats straight off some of my favorite 80's new wave, but it's also got that driving island flavor you find in bands like The Slackers and Westbound Train, which makes sense. The band is working with Rarebreed Recording Company, run in part by Westbound's Obi Fernandez. In fact, All My Guns popped up in my feed over the winter as part of Rarebreed's Winter Sampler. I was eager for more since then. I got it!

That song All My Guns is on repeat at my desk this morning. The harmonies are on point and the beat is smooth. If you read my reviews, you know I love vocals. Vocals are my bread and butter and if you can pull me in with that, you have my full, undivided attention. I dig the vocals on this song hard. This is a song you sing along with at the show. I look forward to doing just that. As hard as it is to put a title on what this music falls into categorically, it's so much fun to listen to. It makes you move, and it has me chomping at the bit for something live down here in the dirty Jersey.

I dig all of this. How to Lure People is a slower beat but you still can't help but move and sing along. Great keys too. There is even a little dub flavor happening with the track, Halo Vs. King Django.

They have some dates coming up next month with the Toasters, including one in at The Knitting Factory in Brooklyn on September 24th You can get your tickets for that one Here. Then they are back up to Mass for a show in Cambridge at the Middle East on September 25th. I am tapping my foot and waiting for the Jersey shows...

You can head on over to Paper+Plastic and pick up Indie Rock is Dying HERE. I suggest strongly that you do. This album is perfect summer groove music and we all need a little more of that in our life.

Check out The Pomps on FACEBOOK




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