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Razzmatazz
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Barnes and Noble
Razzmatazz
Current price: $13.99
Barnes and Noble
Razzmatazz
Current price: $13.99
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Size: CD
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Shrouded in mystery upon the release of their first EP in 2018, Salt Lake City duo
(or
) pulled back the curtain to step into the spotlight for their bombastic full-length debut,
. An explosive fusion of alternative rock, pop savvy, and nostalgic funk swagger, the set strikes an infectious balance between the angular grooves of early-aughts ringmasters like
and
and '60s glam gods like
. The results are fun, sexy, and absolutely catchy, aligning with output by contemporaries such as
. From the start, primary members
lay their inspirations right on the table, tapping into the funkier sides of
for "Leave Me Alone," which struts with elastic bass, hand claps, and a conviction that establishes
as a consummate showman in the making. From there, the bombastic "Mad IQ" slaps a thick "Fame"-esque swagger over jagged synths, while the sexy bounce of "Sugar Pills" sounds like
colliding with
. Elsewhere, "Clusterhug" elevates
to new heights atop a twinkling melody reminiscent of
's "Starlight." The vocal harmonies and sonic layers on that track also introduce another of the band's inspirations,
, whose spirit returns on the falsetto highs of the midtempo piano ditty "Need You Here." Channeling all of those iconic frontmen comes easy to
, and
is a showcase for what he can pull off. Even slower numbers that could be considered filler anywhere else are endearing and engaging, playing like moments for the audience to catch their breath in a live show. "Nobody Likes the Opening Band" is one of those highlights, a tongue-in-cheek piano pitch for the oft-ignored warm-up act that charms like the best of
' live ad-libs. Closing with the theatrical title track,
creeps along with spooky synths before shooting for the rafters with an angelic chorus and juicy saxophone solo that dazzles with that namesake flair.
is a masterful debut, one that shows promise for a pair of musicians who proudly wear their influences on their sleeves. ~ Neil Z. Yeung