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.
Foster 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.
Foster 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
Foster'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's
Robin Zander, a reasonable tradeoff that shifts this release to a heavier pop slant. But
Cheap Trick hasn't sounded this edgy in years, nor have they written as many top-flight songs as
Foster effortlessly churns out on this quality addition to the
Martians' already impressive catalog.