RED PLANET
We Know How It Goes (Gearhead)
Reviewed by DJ Johnson

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Fun power pop by a band of Californians who go all out to deliver on the promise of both of those words. The power is of the wall-of-guitar variety and the bass player keeps the tone knob on 0 for maximum low-end thud (something I appreciate in music like this), while the drummer plays wide open with cymbals ringing, tom toms rolling and hi-hat shimmering. The pop sensibilities seem to have been learned from some pretty cool sources, including Cheap Trick, The Cars, Redd Kross, The Knack, and I swear I hear occasional Devoesque moments that give the songs an added dimension that's totally fascinating. They're not afraid to use a pretty melody, and they'll even accent it on vibraphone to prove it, as they do on "Changing Colors," but they're just as apt to hammer home a simple but effective riff with a gritty synth and a guitar with three foot thick distortion. The presence of powerful, distinctive, high harmony vocals ties the package up nicely. There's a lot to love here, and not a clunker among the dozen tunes on We Know How It Goes. Red Planet's third album is one of the best power pop albums of the year thus far.

© 2004 - DJ Johnson