There is power pop – and then there is POWER POP. Just by this band’s name, it is obvious what side Doublepluspop’s bread is buttered on.
Coming together in the late naughties, Doublepluspop included lead singer and guitarist Paul Averitt, guitarist and vocalist Jon Lenzer, bassist Michael Bowman and drummer Neil Saunders. The Denton, Texas-based band recorded an album in 2002, but unfortunately, budget problems aborted its release.
Flip the calendar forward to 2020, when Coy Green – who produced the project – discovered the forgotten tapes. To make a long story short, the album was revived – and here is Too Loud, Too Fast, Too Much, which has been issued by Kool Kat Musik.
It is honestly no exaggeration to say Too Loud, Too Fast, Too Much clicks in as one of the greatest albums of its model. Following the template of bands such as Cheap Trick, Sloan and Fountains of Wayne, Doublepluspop pads every inch of their songs with punchy guitars, buffed rhythms and bold and dynamic vocals.
Ruled by melody and motion, “Stumbling Back,” “Coincide” and “Everyone” fully demonstrates Doublepluspop’s intuition for writing and playing authentic POWER POP. Although the sound is big and brawny, these songs are not the least bit overblown or bombastic, as Doublepluspop maintains a nice and tight stance. The band’s energy is totally harnessed and consistently in the zone.
Framed in concise arrangements and staggering hooks, “Here’s to the Losers” and “If I Wasn’t in Love” are other world-class whoppers, not to ignore “The Dark Inside” that pinches parts of “When You Walk in the Room” – which was a hit for the Searchers in 1964 – and incorporates the spangly jangly licks into a crunchy Badfinger-styled finish.
A quasi-torch ballad, “You Can’t Be Serious” prospers to a cool slow-burning groove, and then there’s a bang-up treatment of Todd Rundgren’s “Couldn’t I Just Tell You” that hurls a shot of those wailing coyote-like woo-hoo harmonies from Three Dog Night’s “Shambala” into the song for good measure.
Due to the praise Too Loud, Too Fast, Too Much has been pulling in, perhaps Doublepluspop will consider giving it a go again. More music from the band is definitely something to look forward to.
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