New Town Dream

サンフランシスコ・ベイエリア出身のパンク・バンド、Neutralsのニューアルバム。70年代、80年代のパンク、ポスト・パンク、DIYインディー・ポップに幅広く影響を受け、これまでで最もキャッチーでシャープな楽曲群を完成させました。

With short, sharp, and surprisingly catchy songs that sprout out from guitarist/vocalist Allan McNaughtons prickly narrative lyrics and thick Scottish accent, Oakland, California trio Neutrals spent several demo tapes, EPs, and a solid debut full-length shaping up the sound they deliver on their second album, New Town Dream. From their inception, Neutrals drew heavily on the influence of post-punk/sideways pop groundbreakers Television Personalities, but they also occasionally tried on mod-informed melodies, synth sidebars, and even hints of Oi! on their 2022 EP Bus Stop Nights. New Town Dream finds Neutrals back in the lab and gleefully pushing into even more approaches. The album begins with a Slits/New Age Steppers-styled punky dub version of the titular track (which incidentally was the final song on the bands release before this), complete with spacy melodica and snippets of weathered radio dialogue. Later in the set, "How Did I Get Here" is full-on electro-pop, naive and sweetly amateurish in the same category as Belle & Sebastians "Electronic Renaissance" or Arab Straps least cynical material. The latent jangle pop that was always swept away in nervous aggression on earlier releases gets a little room to breathe on the fast but spacious "Travel Agents Windows" or in the wistful, Wedding Present-like charge of "The Iron That Never Swung." The majority of New Town Dream remains the kind of tightly wound, punk-bred shambling pop tunes Neutrals have always been making, and these are some of the albums best moments. "Wish You Were Here" is a classic three-chord indie-pop romp, with harmony vocals from new bassist Lauren Matsui adding depth to the simple but effective arrangement. These songs represent the best-sounding Neutrals material to date, with clearer production highlighting just how energetic the band can be. This production upgrade taken in tandem with some of the groups better songs and a loose, fun flow make New Town Dream a must-hear album for anyone interested in the waves that are still rippling out from early phases of post-punk. ~ Fred Thomas