Odd Robot - Deathmates

 

I've reviewed the last two Odd Robot albums and still absolutely love both. You can read my words on 2017's A Late Night Panic here and 2018's Amnesiastic here. The latter appeared high up in our Best 100 Albums Of The Year.

After the rapid turnaround of those two albums, it has been five years since for the latest. There are still some who refer to them as a Pop Punk when there has been little inkling of that for a while. Amnesiastic was really a New Wave Power Pop album.

2023 sees a much wider remit. The Power Pop is still alive and well, but there are additional journeys at times into 80s Guitar Pop with killer keyboard riffs and American Rock and Roll in an American Grafiti (or if you prefer Porky's!) soundtrack sort of way.

Songs are largely on the short side, not in a run out of ideas way, but in a say what you want to say and move on to the next song. What is key is that every song glistens with melody and sheer catchiness. I can't pick out any dud amongst the 17 songs. 

This makes it hard to pick out individual gems as you can miss out equal joy, I know I bang on about the liberal use of the word fuck in songs for no apparent reason, but You're A Fucking Nightmare is a gem of a song, all riff and charm in a poppier Green Day way.

Second Hand Noose is great singalong twanging affair whilst Let's Start This Over has that late 50s vibe that I mentioned earlier. Anti Revolution is a great 80s Pop duet with The Bombpops Poli van Dam which has a rapid pace and a great keyboard interlude.

Fake Warm Fuzzies Are Still Warm Fuzzies is great New Wave with a real early Costello vibe and California Emptiness is a big nod to the band's roots and shorter pants days. Take A Look At Yourself, Sinner is a crackerjack Pop Rock song.

There is even room for a Big Ballad, yes I did say Big Ballad, in Alone Together In The Sand and they nail that. Lost Inside Yr Ocean is one of the best things that you will hear this year and instrumentally as a little Jeff Lynne feel.

It is really difficult to pick out individual songs as any of there will grace your record player, Santa Ana  most be very proud of this lot. No doubt at all that this will be high up in our End Of Year. It is a terrific album, Go Buy It Now!

You can listen to and buy the album here. It is available on Vinyl on the excellent Wiretap Records label here,

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