Bazooka Joel are a Nova Scotian Power-Pop indie rock band from the Atlantic Ocean port of Halifax, in Eastern Canada who recently released their debut album `Bubblelicious`.
A nervous laugh opens `Rollercoaster` a melodic easy going number whose title is more than likely a metaphor for life’s unpredictable nature and intense emotional experiences. Theres`s a real rhythmic foot tapping texture to `Party Song` with lyrics that are rapidly shared as it develops.
`Pac-Man Fever` is a bouncy reverie about the arcade video game which was foisted on the world in the early eighties and is one of the many passing phases that the narrator becomes obsessed with. There`s a stop start quality to `Hurricanrana` which causes quite a punky storm in it`s one hundred and nineteen seconds of life. I read somewhere that it was a wrestling song.
`Peanut Butter` is an enticing listen that seems to be about self-empowerment while `I`m Not (Not) Supposed To Love You` with its double negative almost tips it`s hat to The Ramones, which for me is no bad thing. It also includes a delicious guitar solo around the two third mark.
`Rita Repulsa` is a garage rock come power pop meld and tells the story of a seemingly unrequited love or fixation for a lady called Rita. We have a fuzzed out slow burn with `You Can`t Do That On Television` which sounds almost somnolent at times.
`Nightmare On Elm St` has a real Rolling Stone`s air about it and seems to be a representation on a girl who creates the same issues regarding the fear of sleeping in the narrator as highlighted in the 1984 American supernatural slasher film. We enjoy a mid-tempo power pop mood with `The Sorrys` which expresses a lack of contrition or remorse.
The album closes out with `Rogue One` which follows rebels who aim to steal the schematics for the Galactic Empire’s ultimate weapon, the Death Star. A pounding thumping slice of guitar driven post-punk power pop with a slight edge.
Bazooka Joel appears to be a core of Joel Langis (guitar/vocals), Michael Ainslie (bass) and Kyle Fraser (drums) with some input from both Mox MacIntosh on vocals on a couple of cuts and Maria Brine adding bass and vocals on another track. `Bubblelicious` runs at around he thirty five minute mark and is well worth a spin and whereas I wasn`t always up with the lyrical content, there`s enough ear worms here to keep you onboard.
Rating 8/10
