REVIEW: Time Bomb Symphony, If You See Kay (Chequered)
- Bill Holmes
First, to get past the sophomoric pun in the title...then, you can enjoy the revelation that Time Bomb Symphony is actually one Darren Robbins, the Midwest pop master who released Steals Your Girlfriend a few years back. I don't know why he and Adam Schmitt (who also has his first in many a moon coming out this year) are forever linked in my mind, but perhaps it's because they're both multi-instrumentalists who have an ear for a good hook and the chops to serve it up. The opening cut, "Take Me Or Leave Me" is a perfect example - pulsating drums, sweeping guitar chords and energetic vocals.
An even better comparison would be fellow Midwesterners The Shoes, except Robbins packs more of a wallop. While I've always admired The Shoes' pop sensibilities, ultimately they wear thin on me because of the production; everything sounds limp. If you feel the same then you might want to check out "Better Love Next Time" and "LMLYD (Love Me Like You Do)", two good examples of mid-tempo pop with a better punch. Not that the songs here are bombastic - If You See Kay has the same demo/lo-fi production technique but somehow gets a little more fuzz on the guitar, a little more snap on the drums.
Darren's voice is different than your classic pop tenor - it's a huskier sound not unlike Jules Shear - and his playing is solid. His writing displays versatility, from the raucous, chunky "See You In Hell" to the bouncy "Perfect Rose" (complete with "Tainted Love" keyboard riff). And yes, there's a couple more bad puns, from the rocking "Act Your Rage" to "Better Love Next Time", the latter another great Shoes meets Cars sound. The album closes strongly with the catchy "Connected By The Moon" and the rollicking bonus track "Heaven", which might be my favorite song on the record.
While there's not any one song here that jumps off the disc and screams "release me as a single!", If You See Kay is a solid effort that will please his old fans and hopefully gather some new ones as well.
