Okay okay, so in my first blog post, in slobbering praise of power pop killers Mother's Children, I slammed Ottawa. Home of senators and Senators and automaton CBC reporters (seriously, they tutor the slower robots in over-enunciation). But this remote, cold ass cold, solid river-ed town has become a hot bed (though likely lonely bed) of balls out, punk pop n roll. The Steve Adamyk Band sounds like name of a fake jazz trio that has a regular Sunday gig at a cougar pub in the Beaches, but they bring it early and often on "Forever Won't Wait", their second full length and first on Portland's Dirtnap Records, not coincidentally the label that put out one of the absolute best albums of the last 10 years - Exploding Hearts "Guitar Romantic".
"Forever Won't Wait" is a speed pop - 11 songs in 23 minutes - throwdown stuffed with quick-set hooks & instantly indelible melodies. Each chorus threatens to lap the next song's verse. The mid album cycle of the title track, "Election Day" and "I Only Wanted You to Know" are perfect punk pop up there with the best of the genre. Why is this type of music marginalized? I dunno. I remember a reviewer comparing power pop to baseball card gum. But fuck that shit. The Beatles invented power pop. Big Star songs still sound great. Same with Cheap Trick. Okay, so SAB doesn't make heavy movies with their music like The National or pour all the needles on the table like The Hold Steady, but in this instant gratification society, why don't more people dose up on music like this? It confounds me. "Forever Won't Wait" is a smash-cut greatest hits reel - exciting, fun, rocking and relentless - and then they drop the mic and walk away. I'll drink to that.
Stream this shit if you have to, but just buy it. Support real music.
Also! This is a great sampler you can download from Dirtnap with great tunes from Montreal's Sonic Avenues and another mighty fine Ottawa product, garage rockers White Wires and more. FOR FREE! Son
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