Luna Drift – Palms
They only stop making cowboy movies for a couple of years, once every couple of decades. Why? The movie producers are just giving the people a chance to miss their heroes and ask to have them back. By the time those two years are over, enough fan letters and angry threats are sent to hammer the message home. There will always be cowboys, even once all the cowboys are dead and buried.
But why are people so in love with these characters? Why do their stories resonate throughout the world? It’s not only because the cowboys do the things that others just dream of doing and achieve a great deal through means of violence and intimidation. That’s a part of it. But it’s really because cowboys ain’t afraid to die as long as they can be carried by the camera off into the sunset.
Luna Drift’s “Palms” is the most arena-rock-ready post-punk band that I’ve heard in a while. They could plug right into the amps of a KISS reunion tour. That’s because Luna Drift feels like they’re soundtracking colossal gunfights out in the old West. You get the feeling that each part of “Palms” ends with bodies left on the ground. What about the British musicians themselves? Well, they play as if they know that they’re going to be safe.
Air Cannon – White Picket Fence
Aren’t people just singing a little too pretty nowadays? And aren’t front people doing a little too much singing and a little too little of everything else? Gosh, it’s enough to make you sick to your stomach.
If there’s one thing that hasn’t moved along with the times, as far as most rock bands are concerned, it’s the technique of the person behind the mike. Choose any random rock band, and they’ll tell you that they auditioned the singer based on how well they could cover “Eye of the Tiger.” Every single one of them.
Now, that’s perfectly fine for groups that want to make sure that they cover the Tribute Act circuit from coast to coast and sea to shining sea. But what about a bit of character? What about some storytelling?
It’s really the vocals that sell Air Cannon’s “White Picket Fence” as well as it does. But this ain’t about perfect pitch or operating displays of proficiency. Behind the basic and effective garage rock formula, Air Cannon’s frontman brings a character to life that you’ll likely want to know more about. That’s where the battle is fought and how bands win it.
