New Manic Spree: Hollywoods And Galaxies

It may have been released two years ago, but this debut EP from Brisbane Australia Alt-rockers New Manic Spree sounds as fresh, vibrant and vital as you could ever hope for. A quick blast of the opening riff to "Deranged" quickly sets up the five tracks (and the short "Prelude") on Hollywoods And Galaxies to perfection, with its stutter stop clarion call being enough to make you sit up and take notice. There's a twisted pop-music sensibility throughout all of the tracks on this all too short debut, but the meaty, beaty guitars still hold enough angst and grit to continually beat you about the head. The ability of NMS to mix in an almost prog vibe in the stripped back intro to the title track, shows a more mature side that leads into near Porcupine Tree territory, while the thunky chunk of "Leck!e" mixes the more commercial side of this act with a dash of Stone Temple Pilots and Soundgarden to make for pop grunge (possibly grungop?? maybe not...). Then add the quirky jazz pop of "Prelude"/"Call To Arms" to something that lands somewhere between the power/punk of The Wildhearts and the more sparkly Jackdaw4 or mainstream Klaxons and you'll begin to appreciate the breadth of the New Manic Spree outlook. Cleverly they bring it all together into something that touches on much, sounds like many, but ultimately ends up being refreshingly different.

Hollywoods And Galaxies is a mighty fine starting point for a band who, on the strength of their songs, you really should have heard by now. Rectify that wrong by going on a New Manic Spree this very instant!

Track Listing
1. Deranged
2. Plastique Fantastique
3. Hollywoods And Galaxies
4. Leck!e
5. Prelude
6. Call To Arms

Added: June 23rd 2012
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: New Manic Spree Online
Hits: 1999
Language: english

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