In the mid-00s, the garage/punk genre experienced a commercial rebirth due in large part to
Miami Steve Van Zandt
's weekly radio show,
Little Steven's Underground Garage
. It goes without saying to anyone who has heard any of the previous five
Boss Martians
albums that lead Martian, guitarist/singer/songwriter
Evan Foster
, is probably a dedicated listener. The band has been on a hiatus, at least for studio recordings, since its last release in 2003, but this grungy rock & roll doesn't seem either retro or musty, even if it flaunts its revivalist influences.
Foster
takes the production reins this time and invites punk Godfather
Iggy Pop
to both co-write the driving
"Mars Is for Martians"
and sing dual lead on the tune. With pile-driving guitar, crashing drums, and an inescapable hook, it's the highlight of this set, even if the other dozen songs are nearly as well crafted.
has a knack for writing tight, tough, pithy rockers that burst out of disc with fire and energy. His longtime partner
Nick Contento
(ex-
Nick C.
)'s organ punches the songs forward with a combination of
Deep Purple
's
Jon Lord
styled propulsion and
Elvis Costello
's sidekick
Steve Nieve
's sheer musicality.
uses loud-soft dynamics and arrangements more intricate than most that work in this crowded genre. Echoes of the
Zombies
haunt the quieter passages of songs such as
"Elsie,"
especially as the evocative keyboards provide sturdy backup for guitar solos that never overstay their welcome. The few midtempo ballads spaced throughout the set list occasionally reference the British Invasion, especially the
Who
-ish
"And She's Gone,"
and the
Doors
on
"If You Only Knew"
adding more elements to
's arsenal. His voice has lost some of the overt
Costello
tics that somewhat hampered the last album, replacing them with nods to
Cheap Trick
Robin Zander
, a reasonable tradeoff that shifts this release to a heavier pop slant. But
hasn't sounded this edgy in years, nor have they written as many top-flight songs as
effortlessly churns out on this quality addition to the
Martians
' already impressive catalog. ~ Hal Horowitz