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If Neil Finn<\/a><\/strong> (Crowded House<\/strong>) were an American instead of a Kiwi, he might sound a bit like Tommy & the High Pilots<\/strong>. On the opener and title cut of T&THP’s EP American Riviera<\/em>, they rock out with a catchy riff, and apply a yearning vocal atop it all. An unadorned production style has more in common with, say, John Mellencamp<\/strong> than Crowded House, but the song does have that certain something that Finn can be counted on for. It’s over too soon.<\/p>\n “Motorbike” features Tom Cantillon<\/strong>‘s clear and expressive voice, overdubbed on the chorus, in a medium tempo. But behind him, the band pummels along at high velocity, for a pleasing juxtaposition. Subtle pounding piano (if you can imagine such a thing) adds a nice bit of texture. And a slightly unhinged guitar solo notches the excitement up even further.<\/p>\n “Taxi” has a heart-rending vibe even if one ignores the lyrics. It has a wide-screen, epic feel without being pretentious or overwrought. In fact it sounds like soundtrack for a climactic scene in some movie.<\/p>\n “Where to Start” strips things down to their most elemental. Cantillon presents the song’s opening with only voice and guitar. But then the song explodes with a headed-out-on-that-open road feel. Like all the songs on American Riviera<\/em>, it has a familiar feel; it sounds like you’ve heard it before, but it’s not a rewrite of somebody else’s song.<\/p>\n “The Limit” rocks out in an anthemic, full-on fashion. But “Carried by You” takes a radically different approach. Foot stomps and banjos are on the menu here. In light of the sound of the previous five songs — varied yet rocking — it’s a perhaps unexpected departure. But it works, though it’s over quite suddenly.<\/p>\n Anyone who enjoys the straight-ahead rock sounds that skirt on the edge of Americana — artists like Mellencamp, Gin Blossoms<\/strong>, Old 97s<\/strong> — will find plenty to like on American Riviera<\/em>. Well, okay: not plenty<\/em>, since it’s only six songs. But hopefully it’s a teaser for more to come. According to the band’s site, Cantillon brought sixty(!) songs in for consideration, and picked six. Stay tuned; I certainly will.<\/p>\n
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