|
There's been a lot of
talk that the new album from Radio 4, Gotham!, is the
heir-apparent to the best albums by the Clash and the (early) Gang
of Four.
The New York band's
syncopated rhythms and jagged guitars echo the Gang of Four, but are
lacking in the political immediacy that the Gang brought to the
table. There's no "To Hell With Poverty" in this collection -
instead, there's the fast and danceable "Save Your City," which
loses the message among the guitars and percussion.
Which isn't all bad-
Gotham! is packed with dance/punk energy. "Eyes Wide Open"
uses a stuttering guitar to great effect, while the vocal melody
sounds similar to "Talking to a Stranger" by the (mostly forgotten)
Hunters and Collectors.
Even though Radio 4
don't exactly match the brilliance of the Clash or Gang of
Four, they are an easy band to like. They're not latching onto
any music industry trends-of-the-moment. Like the Gang of
Four, they are challenging us to listen to them on their own terms.
Download Gotham! from EMusic.com
(one free track for non-members)
Purchase Gotham! from CDNow
|
