Six years since their previous album, The Peawees are back with 11 corking new tunes of power pop goodness. Admittedly, I am more familiar with guitarist Dario Persi’s band, Radio Days, and while there are similarities between the two groups, Radio Days are a blast of sunshine while The Peawees sometimes have a darker edge to their melodies. That said, both bands have a pile of strong songs, proving once again that Italian bands currently have the upper hand, with the exception of The Speedways.

From ‘Banana Tree’ onwards, there are tunes to get you grooving, nodding or punching the air. This is a slinky number for the dance floor, as is first single ‘The Wolf’ (see video). ‘Drive’ is a radio friendly anthem, once heard, never forgotten. Simple, but very effective. And that’s what The Peawees specialise in; like Radio Days, they make familiar melodies sound fresh and exciting. ‘Plastic Bullets’ adds keyboards and a “woah, woah” refrain. It’s here that they sound most like The Speedways, as high a compliment as I can give. Two minutes fly by, and you’ll be playing it again.

‘Lost In The Middle’ has that hint of menace that John Reis does so well, currently my favourite track. ‘She Cries As She Kills’ is another slice of power pop, complete with handclaps. The production is excellent throughout, the guitars have just the right amount of crunch, without overshadowing the vocals. ‘Who’s The Enemy’ will get you swinging your pants, with a Beatlesque chord sequence. It’s infectious stuff. What can I add? The title track shares some DNA with Radio Days, no bad thing, obviously. With this album, they’re two of my favourite bands. Speaking of which, ‘You’ll Never Be Mine Again’ sees the band duetting with The Detroit Cobras. While the inimitable Rachel is sorely missed, fair play, it’s a beautiful song. If the above mentioned bands are your thing, you really need this album in your life.

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Author: Martin Chamarette