With a whole lot of fuzzy distortion, infectious rhythms and a psychedelic vibe that’s as cool as the other side of the pillow, it’s difficult to pick another band that’s bound for a bigger year than The New Highway Hymnal from the north shore of Massachusetts. Their second full-length album, Reverb Room, is out and it’s a rip-roaring gem. It’s as if the ghost of Lou Reed came back to haunt us while exuding the styles of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club & The Jesus and Mary Chain. You can make all of the rock ‘n’ roll comparisons you want, but once you press play on this you can’t deny The New Highway Hymnal’s original spin on things.
Hints of surf, shoegaze, blues and garage rock are all over Reverb Room, and it’s perfect for anyone who likes it loud. It has a groove that’ll make you move, harking back to late ’50s rock ‘n’ roll dance parties when people would boogie down at a hop. Frontman Hadden Stemp gets sensual with his lyrics while bringing an intensity that’s rivaled by few. Reverb Room will make the ladies strut while hitting the guys straight in the gut.
Good music can give you a buzz like a shot of espresso, keeping you up for hours on end. Wanna get rhythmically caffeinated? Take a sip from my top tracks off of the Album Of The Week and enjoy.
The best song I’ve heard so far this year has to be “Isolation.” The riffs on this anthem for the introverted are simple and beautiful. “Television” will make you dance like a lunatic. The doo-wop joint vocals and the howling really go well with a bass-heavy sound that is an absolute hip shaker. The surf rock of “By The Pool” would make Dick Dale jealous; stupendous drum playing serves as the backbone for this one to create energetic rhythms.
The New Highway Hymnal don’t have any shows planned, but expect big things from them in 2015. Grab a copy of Reverb Room now; it’s bound to be on a lot of people’s best-of lists by year’s end. It’s a rocker with the power to crush brick walls with authority.
Stream of Reverb Room: soundcloud.com/
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