If you can imagine Elvis Costello and the Attractions playing a show one night after getting completely tanked, you can begin to understand what Gary B and the Notions sound like. Hailing from my hometown of Baltimore, Gary B and the Notions are out to wake you up and make you dance to their schizophrenic pop rock jams.
The new record is aptly named - the melodies do twist, and the vocals shout at you. Much like the town of Baltimore, the music of Gary B is a myriad of styles, with some places being safer than others to visit. But whatever musical road Gary B is exploring, there is a certain indie, garage rock charm about this record that makes you looks beyond the low-fi nature of the production and the offbeat lyrics. It leaves you saying, there is something about these guys that I like, but I can't quite put my finger on it.
There are times when Gary B writes vocal checks he just can't cash, but his style makes you cheer him on for trying. He's our everyday hero living out his dream and inviting you to his 30 minute party. So consider yourself warned: this is not high gloss power pop - "A New Twist and Shout" is for those who dig raw indie rock of a quirky nature. Highlights include "Three Horse Carousel", "Give Me One Reason", and "New York Jet Set Garbage".
iPOD-worthy: 2, 7, 11
Gary B and the Notions on MySpace. Official site.
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