Dead Stars - Never Not Here

 

As reflections on the previous year begin, there always seems to be a common theme and my biggest take from 2020 is that Brooklyn seems to be success story of 2020. A few years ago, I asked what had become of New York, nothing good music wise seemed to have come out of there for sometime and the scene seemed a bit tumbleweed.

Well that's all changed and the beauty of the revival is that the music comes from all different genres. It isn't as you'd expect it to be with Guitar if not Garage Indie sprouting up. There's a real variety across Indie from Folk to Baroque Pop and the noisier Guitar led stuff is incredibly melodic.

Dead Star are very much Fuzz Pop. Fuzz Pop is often accused of being too close to Grunge and although you can get examples of that, Cool Summer here certainly borders on that, but I've always felt that the better examples of it are far more melodic.

Never Not Here is certainly that, both melodic and riff led with some splendid solos unexpectedly crop up. Every Someday borders on Power Pop and Always Down is an Acoustic Joy, a stripped down song that reveals another side of the band.

Wake Up could be Status Quo in the verses and Drone On verges into Psych. The stand out though is the superb riff laden, Hold My Breath and it is these Poppier moments that impress most with songs like Dreams Don't Come True and Would It Be So Bad.

The trio thankfully never lose the DIY ethic and as much as being on far pop spectrum of Grunge, there's also an argument that they compare favourably with C86 onward UK Scene of Jesus And Mary Chain, although certainly a more melodic JAMC. This album is a top notch listen.

You can listen to and buy the album here.

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