Family Spree Recordings/Monster Zero Records, June 19, 2020
The Budweisers are going to get you singing along, and you're going to like it.
After releasing the fantastic My Girlfriend's A Bonehead in 1998, Spain's The Budweisers pretty much went away, leaving us with only four songs. However, in 2018, they gave us something new, a self-titled 7-inch. Now, a couple years later, The Budweisers are back with their first full-length, Lords of Budtown.
Lords of Budtown continues The Budweisers path towards greatness, blending Beach Boys-inspired melodies and harmonies with the spirit of 60's girl groups and mixing the power pop of The Beat with the angst and buzz of Ramones, The Queers, and The Parasites. “Rocket to Your Heart” and “All the Way” both buzz and bounce with a quick pace, some addicting melodies, and absolutely contagious backing vocals. “Rocket”'s got some really cool lead guitar worked in, and “All the Way” wraps a song about trying to hold onto a girl in the wavering vibes of a 50's-sounding tremolo guitar. “High School Party” has a bunch of the same going for it, throwing in some Riverdales-style rapid fire guitar chord changes that are in perfect sync with the rhythm section. Same goes for “Double Agent” and “Budweisers Bop”, each zipping along with some delirious melodies, but now set off with some chant-along moments that'll get you going.
The power pop side of The Budweisers also comes out throughout on Lords of Budtown, as several songs slow things down just a bit and lean hard into sugary pop goodness. “Fall in Love” is a mid-tempo stomper with some really nice vocal hooks. And “I Wonder” fits a similar mold, only now the guitars are buzzing and ringing with a little more sparkle on the bridge and chorus. But my favorite of these is “The Rhythm of My Heart”. “Rhythm” feels like a 50's throwback, accented by a nice (and nicely understated) organ. The lyrics fit, too, asking a girl not to break his heart, begging for her to stick it out, so pretty typical power pop fodder. The serrated guitars sort of tip off a more modern recording, but that's about it. It's really endearing.
The Budweisers have a cool record on their hands with Lords of Budtown. I suppose I could go on and on about the blending of musical influences, the tight execution, and other nonsense. But I'll just keep it simple, like they do. The songs are really good, and that's what it's all about.
You might like this if:
- You have Ramones posters on your walls
- You like singalongs
You might not if:
- You think Ramones are a crummy overrated pop band (whoever you are, I don't want to know you)
ryan is a reviewer and news editor for TGEFM. He's very secretive, he might be an alien.
