Another Form of Relief

It’s been a couple of years since The Band Of That Guy Who Was In Weezer appeared again with a new EP, following Matt Sharp’s misstep into the solo arena. Now they are back with their first full-length project in ten years, a collection of three EPs that will be collected as an album at the end of the year. It’s an interesting way to go, even if I’m not entirely convinced by it. The releasing of the EPs is fine, releasing them only as downloads and making us wait for physical copies is a tad annoying. Especially when the physical copies come with a long wait time and a ludicrously high price tag.

None of that should get in the way of the music though, and it’s good to hear The Rentals back at doing what they do best. Like the best songs from their previous release, Story of a Thousand Seasons Past sounds as though it would feel right at home on their original Return of the Rentals album. The song remains even handed throughout, never really getting it’s big rise or succinct statement. This style is one that a lot of bands struggle with, but here it manages to suit both Sharp’s voice and songwriting. Certainly it’s more rounded than any of their previous material, even if it doesn’t quite become the perfect song. It’s still good enough to win over new ears to the band, rather than having the band still ride along on the goodwill toward the previous band.

Chapter One of Songs About Time is available now as a digital download for $6. The next two volumes should appear in July and October respectively. Physical releases will follow in December and will cost, depending on which version you go for, either $125 or $275. I shit you not.

Sara Radle, the lead singer of Calamity Magnet, used to be in The Rentals. I’m not sure what it means that despite this I’ve never heard of her previously, but I have more than one press release telling me that it’s true. No matter though. I’d have been none the wiser had I not been told either, as this certainly doesn’t sound like The Rentals.

Calamity Magnet want to sing sixties style pop songs. Granted they are a little more polished than you may have found back then, but the focus is all on sugar sweet harmonies and gentle words. Despite seemingly being around forty years late to the party, it all seems to work well enough. I’d probably find it all a little too much if confronted with an entire album like this, but as a short, sharp shot of throwback pop, Baby, You Forgot does the job admirably.

The Rentals, or rather The Band Of That Guy Who Was In Weezer, seem to be alive once again. Eight years after their second and seemingly last album, Seven More Minutes, the band have released a new EP. It may seem a little odd to be writing about that release when I haven’t heard it, but I couldn’t resist posting this gem. Translator is a song that was cut from the all over the place Seven More Minutes, and is the epitome of everything that made their first album great. A nice usage of Moog, swirling male-female melodies and just the right amount of distortion. Which begs the question as to why it was left off of the album, given the some of the dreck that did make it on.