The Cambridge Dictionary defines authenticity as “the quality of being real or true.” While the dictionary provides several sample sentences illustrating the use of this term, what’s conspicuously absent from the list is a direct link to the music of Uni Boys. Many bands we cover attempt to capture the essence of classic acts from past decades, yet few accomplish this as convincingly as Uni Boys. The band appears to have stepped out of the ’70s, seamlessly blending power pop and classic rock in a way that never feels contrived, derivative, or like a mere parody. This was evident on their first two full-length releases in 2020, but it’s even more pronounced on both Do It All Next Week (2022) and on Buy This Now! which is out this week.
Buy This Now! marks a zenith in Uni Boys’ discography, representing their most ambitious effort to date. After some home recorded amateur charades with Tascams and laptops, it’s their first real studio album with Michael and Brian D’Addario of The Lemon Twigs at the helm for production and mixing. The nuance is both subtle and unmistakable. The opening track, Let’s Watch A Movie, epitomizes classic Uni Boys, standing out as one of the album’s gems and undoubtedly one of the most enjoyable power pop tunes I’ve encountered this year. Down In The City follows suit as another power pop triumph, adorned with an organ that’s unabashedly old school (but also kind of Steve Nieve (Elvis Costello)) and charmingly corny in the best possible way. Then there are songs like Somewhere To Fall and I’m Alright that reveal a suprising and less guitar-centered side of Uni Boys. On other songs it’s almost like Uni Boys traveled even further back in time, channeling the earliest power pop bands and classic rock bands. Thoughout it all, Uni Boys sound more poppy than before.
It took me exactly two spins to get over my initial skepticism over Buy This Now! Now I have trouble switching it off and listening to anything else. It sure is a blast witnessing Uni Boys solidify their status as today’s answer to yesterday’s finest power pop acts. Buy this Now! is out this Friday at Curation Records.
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