The Deadbeat Bang of Heartbreak City

Veteran songwriter James Alex built the his band Beach Slang from teenage nostalgia and wonder struck earnestness, wrapping heart-on-the-sleeve sentiments in hooks borrowed directly from The Replacements. Alex would be the first to admit an unshy obsession with the Mats, and he channeled their rugged blue collar pop into his own idealistic and catchy albums. Loud guitars, racing heartbeats and youthful excitement encapsulated the best Beach Slang moments, and third album Deadbeat Bang of Heartbreak City pushes those elements even further. If the nods to the Replacements werent enough before, the ante is upped considerably with the addition of their original bassist Tommy Stinson as a new member. Stinsons authentic pedigree and feel add to tunes already deeply indebted to his old band like the rowdy shuffle of Let It Ride or anthemic album standout Tommy In The 80s. With a barrage of synth melodies and wistful lyrics about lively city streets on a Saturday night, Tommy In The 80s offers the best of combination of Beach Slangs emotional signifiers and high energy powerpop production. The acoustic guitars and strings of Nobody Say Nothing recall the same subdued territory Alex explored as Quiet Slang, a project that found him reworking songs with stripped down arrangements. When not working in wide-eyed pop, Alexs songwriting goes in the direction of sleazy hard rockers. Slithery tunes like Stiff or Born To Raise Hell are surrounded by airy two-chord blasters like Kicking Over Bottles. ~ Fred Thomas