JohnO Posted April 18, 2009 Share Posted April 18, 2009 Got a promo copy of "Tinted Windows" last week. I remember quite a few posts about the band and their first single ("Kind Of A Girl") which was posted on-line awhile back.First - Yeah, it's a very good solid debut album, with (to these ears) at least 3 killer power pop classics -the aforementioned single, the Cheap Trick-meets-Big Star "Nothing To Me" (co-written by Taylor Hanson with Schlesinger), and the one tune that sticks in your head immediately, "Doncha Wanna". The CD seems to improve with repeated listenings - definitely a good sign! Most of the songs, penned of course by Adam S., are catchy, but without the lyrical quirkiness of most of his Fountains of Wayne work - mostly moon/june lyrics here, and not the oddball stories he likes to tell with Fountains. Suspect he's saving those for his main band. The band's playing is first-rate (surprising to me, since I think James Iha is usually a pretty colorless guitarist in Smashing Pumpkins - he's fine at belting out the power chords here and tossing in generally tasy licks/fills). Taylor Hanson clearly has a great voice, but I'm not sure it's that well-suited to some of the material here. He comes across as trying to sound a little too edgy/snotty in places on some tunes, especially the slow ones, which isn't convincing, at least to me. Also, I wish they threw in a bit more group harmonies, which are great when they choose to use them. Bun E. is rock-steady, as he always is.If there's one real disappointment to me, it's the ultra slick production, which makes some of the power pop anthems here sound more like the occasional poppy/catchy tunes and/or power ballads played by hair-dog, quasi-metal 80s and 90s bands....if Tinted Windows winds up in arenas, opening for huge acts, their material should come across well. I'd rather hear them in a small club live, which may not be possible due to their pasts.A solid but unspectacular debut....it's on a par with most efforts by off-shoot bands of this type.I'd guess it'll get 3-3.5 star ratings (maybe a 4) in the mags with 5 star rating systems, and maybe a 6-7 in the mags with 10 star systems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marvin Posted April 18, 2009 Share Posted April 18, 2009 Thanks for the input John. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pretender Posted April 19, 2009 Share Posted April 19, 2009 I saw that they're playing the Double Door in Chicago on the 30th of this month,but it was already sold out when I found out about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris hess Posted April 19, 2009 Share Posted April 19, 2009 john o..do you think they will be compared with cheap trick?? that's what i'm afraid of...lol,chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy K. Posted April 19, 2009 Share Posted April 19, 2009 I saw that they're playing the Double Door in Chicago on the 30th of this month,but it was already sold out when I found out about it. There's a place called the "Double Door" in Chicago?? I thought Seattle was the only place with a club with that kind of name("Triple Door").. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pretender Posted April 19, 2009 Share Posted April 19, 2009 http://www.doubledoor.com/shows.php Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnO Posted April 19, 2009 Author Share Posted April 19, 2009 "john o..do you think they will be compared with cheap trick??"Absolutely! The fact that Taylor H. sounds more than a bit like Robin Zander in his highest range, plus the one tune ("Nothing To Me"), which sounds like either Cheap Trick writing/playing a Big Star song or Big Star doing Cheap Trick, will ensure this! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnO Posted April 19, 2009 Author Share Posted April 19, 2009 BTW, I just heard that Rolling Stone gives this 3 stars....not surprising at all (See comments at the end of my original post). Personally, I'd rate it a very solid 4, but most critics in most music rags don't really give a rat's ass about 70's-styled power pop, unfortunately....Played it one more time on the way into work this morning (Tony Cartmill, please note: Yes, I have a Gubment job, and I'm in here on Sunday!!! Economic Stimulus/ARRA-related nonsense.....and no, I do NOT get paid overtime, being a manager!). The CD definitely does grow on you, slick production and all....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnO Posted April 19, 2009 Author Share Posted April 19, 2009 Just found a link to the RS review....Mr. Hoard missed the Cheap Trick connection in "Nothing To Me', and thinks it's strictly a "Big Star rip"....this is pretty accurate, but it's obvious that he doesn't like the CD as much as I believe most folks here will. http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/27384551/review/27534452/tinted_windows Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GMan Posted April 19, 2009 Share Posted April 19, 2009 That's another CD I will be getting. As a matter of fact....in the New York Daily News this past week....Jim Farber gave it a thumbs up and even mentioned them in reference to Raspberries. A must have for me. Thanks for the review John! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Sutton Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 I really enjoyed this CDRon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TOMMY TUNES Posted May 14, 2009 Share Posted May 14, 2009 I think it's only $9.99 on Deepdiscount.com. No tax or delivery charges as always. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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