Pros: With a little help from their friends, The Romantics return with a new album.
Cons: None.
The Bottom Line: With help from the Eminem/Kid Rock mixing camps, The Romantics ("What I Like About You") return. Additional backup comes from members of The Black Crowes, The Detroit Wheels and Blondie.
They came from Detroit. They conquered the pop music world. They were romantic dreamers. They are The Romantics and now they're back with a little assist from their friends.
Best known for the tune "What I Like About You" (which didn't crack the Top 40 but is known to millions via TV commercials), The Romantics peaked in 1983 at # 3 on the U. S. charts with the single "Talking In Your Sleep." Then they dropped off pop music radar screens, though they never broke up and have toured constantly over the years. Now they return with a brilliant new album, "61/49."
At the dawn of the 21st Century, few among us could have expected the return of melodic power pop --- Detroit brand --- to the world's record stores, but the invasion has arrived and we must surrender our musical souls to the sound. These pop underdogs deserve your attention; their music commands it.
This catchy sound is available on their new CD, "61/49," released on Web Entertainment Records. With sound production by Wally Palmer of The Romantics and others, the album was mixed and engineered by Steve King (Eminem) and Al Sutton (Kid Rock), who succeed in capturing The Romantics' vital, updated-yet-retro sound here.
The Romantics have returned, 18 years after recording their last full-length album, with a sound that is as fresh and vibrant as anything in modern rock 'n' roll. That the band's lineup features long-time veterans of the band (who were unable to record during a long battle with their former management) is a plus, too.
The Romantics, famed for such hits as "What I Like About You" and "Talking In Your Sleep," are joined by keyboardist Eddie Hawrysch of The Black Crowes, drummer Johnny Badanjek of The Detroit Wheels and drummer Clem Burke of Blondie in this conspiracy to bring high energy rock 'n' roll back to the masses.
Also on board is Luis Resto, who plays hammond organ and other instruments on the album. Resto may be best-known as the co-writer with singer Eminem of the Oscar-winning song "Lose Yourself" from the film "8 Mile." Resto has also worked with Brian Wilson, Bonnie Raitt and Patti Smith.
Founding Romantics' drummer Jimmy Marinos plays on several tracks, but has been replaced in the band by drummer Clem Burke (who plays with The Romantics when Blondie isn't active). The Romantics current lineup is Burke (when available), lead singer/guitarist Wally Palmer (who plays a mean harmonica as well), bassist Mike Skill and guitarist Coz Canler.
History:
The band was formed on Valentine's Day of 1977. Their first gig was as opening act for the legendary MC5 ("Kick Out The Jams"). Their third gig was before 80,000 people as opening act for Peter Frampton, The J. Geils Band and Steve Miller in Pontiac Stadium.
Soon signed to a recording contract, the band's rags-to-riches, faster-than-a-speeding-bullet success story continued, with producer Pete Solley (Procul Harum, Whitesnake) at the helm during those glory days.
Their first album, "The Romantics," rose to # 61 on the Billboard Top 200 in 1980. That same year, the single "What I Like About You" ("...that's what I like about you..."; the background subject of numerous TV commercials ever since) took the band to # 49 on the Hot 100 Singles chart.
The band was soon discovered by the then-new MTV cable music channel, which promoted the band's videos and aired a memorable live concert by the band (no lip-synching by these rowdy rockers).
The band's peak came in 1983, when the album "In Heat" rose to # 14 (spending 36 weeks on the charts). It spawned the # 3 hit "Talking In Your Sleep" ("...I hear the secrets that you keep, when you're talking in your sleep...") and its Top 40 follow-up, "One In A Million."
With big hair, good looks and great songs, things seemed great, but then that ugly monster of management (or mismanagement, perhaps) got in the way and legal battles kept the band from making a successful follow-up to their break-through success (hard to promote the next recording when you're in court).
Lineup changes have plagued the band over the years (Jimmy Marinos has been in and out of the group a few times), but they have continued on when others would have quit. They have not only continued on, but with "61/49" they have made their best album yet.
The album:
"61/49" features 10 solid tracks without a bad number in the bunch. Most of the tunes are originals written by the band's members, but also included are amazing remakes of The Pretty Things' "Midnight To Six Man" and The Kinks' "I Need You."
The album title is a tribute to blues legend Robert Johnson, one of the group's inspirations over the years. The band has an uncanny, Rolling Stones-ish ability to mix classic blues with rock 'n' roll while maintaining an all-important pop listenability. This album rocks as hard as any of the classic Stones or Yardbirds tunes of the '60s, but with a fresh, current rock sound.
The 6-page CD booklet features shots of the band as a group and individually, with track-by-track notes. Sorry, no lyrics are included, but it's a pretty cool-looking booklet just the same.
The album cover shot, showing the band lit from behind so they appear as faceless shadows in the photo, is fitting for a band that has always placed its music ahead of its leather-jacketed rockers image.
The album has received rave reviews in Rolling Stone, Billboard, Creem and other publications. "61/49" also received the "Outstanding National/Small Independent Label Recording Award" at the 2004 Detroit Music Awards recently.
The tracks:
"Devil In Me," "61/49," "Midnight To Six Man," "When Will It End," "Out Of My Head (Out Of My Mind)," "When The Angels (Hear Me Callin')," "New Kinda Pain," "I Need You," "Paint The Sky" and "Still We Remain."
Recommendation:
Outstanding set from this dependable foursome. The Romantics' "61/49" will appeal to fans of classic rock, The Beatles and Aerosmith, among others. Power pop fans should eat it up like a tasty sundae (with Raspberries on top, of course).
The best tunes:
"Devil In Me":
Written by band members Palmer, Skill and Canler, "Devil In Me" rocks as hard as any rock tune in decades --- a bit of The Rolling Stones "Street Fighting Man" meets The Raspberries' "Tonight" as a powerhouse rocker. Lots of guitar power-chords, reverb and a non-stop power punch drum kit (Marinos on this track) help knock you out of your seat.
Palmer's lead vocal is cool, backed by a Motown-ish backup vocal sound. Simply stunning, with cool lyrics about a guy possessed by his girlfiend:
"...bless my soul / it's evil, can't you see / little angel put the devil in me..."
Listen to Palmer's harmonica on the fadeout --- he proves that the harmonica remains a great rock music instrument (little used today, but once a favorite of rock acts like The Beatles and Bob Dylan).
"Midnight To Six Man":
On their cover of The Pretty Things' little slice of psychedelic heaven, "Midnight To Six Man," The Romantics are full of energy. Listen to the sizzling lead guitar that dominates the song's melody, as the band sounds like classic '60s rockers with the lead vocalist singing, followed by answering vocals from his bandmates, in a tune about a guy who likes to "sleep through the day... 'til the night comes around":
"I'll never see / the people I know / in the bright light of day / so how can I say / that you're any friend of mine (see you any time) / when I'm feeling fine (midnight to six) / well that's my time (that's your time) / midnight, midnight to six..."
"New Kinda Pain":
Another standout rock track, "New Kind Pain" (written by band members Palmer, Skill and Canler with power popster Joel Martin) features former Detroit Wheels' member Johnny Badanjek on drums and Martin on electric 12 string guitar. The tune was produced by Palmer and Martin.
Opening with some finely beaten skins and ringing guitar sounds, the lead vocal is uncanny in its resemblance to Nick Lowe ("Cruel To Be Kind") --- so much so as to make one question for a moment what album you're listening to. It's a cool tune just the same about one of "those" relationships (the kind you're in at the moment but you just can't remember why you're in them):
"...can't shake this attraction / to a new kinda pain..."
"I Need You":
Ray Davies of The Kinks can be proud of the remake The Romantics have done of "I Need You." The band is pretty true to the original here, but Clem Burke's drumming and (usual bassist) Mike Skill's lead guitar work (filling in for Canler on this track) give the tune a bit of a boost over The Kinks' original version, in my opinion:
"I need you / I need you more than birds need the sky / I need you, it's true little girl / that you can lift the tears from my eyes / but if ever you tell me goodbye / I'll break down and you'll hear me cry / I need you / more than anybody else has needed anyone before..."
"Paint The Sky":
Written by Palmer, Skill and Canler, "Paint The Sky" features Eminem sideman Luis Resto on hammond organ, mellotron and tympanis. Guest Michael Millman expands the wall-of-sound with string bass and cellos.
There is a wonderful, late '60s psychedelic sound here (reminding one of The Beatles, certainly, and The Doors, Spirit and The Jefferson Airplane at their most mellow, perhaps). Not only is the music retro, but so are the lyrics (close your eyes when you hear this and tell me if images of the "Sgt. Pepper" don't flash through your mind):
"There's a place that takes me away / and I want to go with you / where everything feels so right / through the fields of thoughts and dreams / ... / we can paint the sky..."
"Still We Remain":
There's a wonderful Celtic acoustic feel to "Still We Remain," a gentle, strolling ballad by Palmer, Skill and Canler. It's a sweet ballad, made sweeter by the gentle sounds of background vocals from a chorus from the Foundation Day School 4th Grade, accordion by Luis Resto, piano, harpsichord and acoustic guitars.
A song of hope, "Still We Remain" could also be the theme for a band many thought was gone forever:
"We all live for the chance on a page out of time / ... / I have nothing at all / how much of me do I own / not even what I've been calling myself / here we are and still we remain..."
The official band site (lots of neat stuff, including the current tour schedule): http://www.romanticsdetroit.com
You might also like:
"Live On Sunset Strip" (Deluxe Edition of 2 CDs and a DVD recorded during the 2005 reunion tour) By Raspberries, a 2007 Rykodisc release with liner notes by Bruce Springsteen and a photo of John Lennon in a Raspberries sweatshirt in the CD booklet, produced by Mark Linett and Eric Carmen: http://www.epinions.com/content_393207123588
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