The Pills Kick In (Monolyth record group)
Second album from Boston power pop group - easy to swallow, or will you need a spoonful of sugar to help get it down?
As one might expect, there's a vast difference in effect between pharmaceutical grade amphetamines and your average white crosses or truck stop speed. The former will create a more focused excitability where everything sounds and appears more sharp, down to the most minute details. By contrast, the latter will render you a babbling, irritable lunatic, the back of your brain tingling, and in larger doses induce out and out mania from little more than a compound of pseudoephedrine, caffeine and (sometimes) gingko biloba.
One can largely make similar comparisons in the world of underground pop music, and I don't mean "indie", but the far more tasteful brand of power pop. There are lots of simply amped up bands bouncing off the wall with tons of energy and attitude. This is all fine and well on stage, but how many of these bands really have their songwriting skills up to snuff and can present an album's worth of material that doesn't all sound the same?
The Pills, through their second album "Kick In" show that they are the Dextroamphetamine amongst a field of "yellow lightning" and ill-advised sophomore year chemistry experiments. Pulling in a wider range of instrumentation including keyboards and a (minimally used) horn section, The Pills exhibit a greater depth than many of their peers, while putting forth every bit of energy and aggression that today's kids require of their favorite pop bands.
Songs like "Pop Goes Mandy", "Dictionary" and the updated beat-era sounding "Apologize" show both originality and respect for influential pop bands who have gone before The Pills. All three of these songs are radio friendly, as is "Thumb | Star". Further, while this Boston foursome has a more healthy, yet less menacing appearance than your average band of rock and roll stars, this is the kind of album that could, in a just world, propel these guys to an attractive major label deal, and the hit single they deserve. The boys have already appeared on the teen-oriented American television show "Dawson's Creek" performing "Spork" from this album. Of course, major labels seem to have a way of making good bands implode (see: The Interpreters) so maybe we should just skip to the next paragraph.
"Kick In" has all of the classic power pop elements; relentless riffs, incredible hooks and unadulterated energy. The Pills, however, exceed in a couple areas where most bands fall short. First of all, they are able to slow the tempo down without losing momentum, as we hear on "Halifax" with both wailing guitar noise and a little bit of saccharine vocals on top. "Dictionary" also applies, and is also a fine example of another strength of The Pills; not only can David Thompson sing, but Corin Ashley can harmonize! Add in the fact that Ashley's bass playing is equally melodic as it is rhythmic, providing a great counterpoint to the melody to their songs and you've got the whole package wrapped up quite nicely in an easy to swallow, uh, pill form.
Face it, you're going to hear more about The Pills sooner or later, so you better start getting it now. Take it from your good friends at Uppers - a likely endorsement to be sure - but still a recommended prescription. Don't settle for the generic brand, either.
[Published 26 March 2002]
| Comments: | |
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| charles W | apr 8 2002 8:21PM |
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| I just saw these guys this weekend in New York and I must say, they were sounding quite alright! They've cleaned up a bit with the looks and the music was definately on with the hooks and harmonies. Keep on with it guys! | |
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