From the moment the crisp guitar playing of Neutrals first reached my ears, this three-piece from the Bay Area carved out a special place in my heart. Naturally, my anticipation for their sophomore LP, New Town Dream, was sky-high. Now that it’s here, I can breathe a sigh of relief — Neutrals have nailed it. At the top of the list: great songs and loads of hits. New Town Dream offers plenty of underground chart-toppers, particularly the stretch from track 3, Wish You Were Here (video below), to track 7, Last Orders, which captures the early spirit of The Jam. Ask me later, and I’ll probably add several more tracks to that list.
Everything else on the list of boxes might be of less importance, but they all contribute to Neutrals’ appeal and the highly enjoyable experience of listening to the band. For example, each of the previous Neutrals releases had that feel of finding a hidden gem in your favorite record store, and New Town Dream is no exception. Another essential element is Allan McNaughton’s vocals. His voice, unpolished and charming, proudly showcases its Glaswegian heritage. His talk-singing approach gives Neutrals a throwback DIY spirit that feels authentic and engaging. Another key element? Diversity. At their core, Neutrals are an indie pop/C86/twee/jangle version of a post-punk band, and their many faces should appeal to both pop and punk fans. I could go on, but if you’ve pressed play below, the music will speak for itself.
New Town Dream exudes the communal and welcoming nature of underground awesomeness. I can imagine standing at a Neutrals concert with 30 to 40 fellow music fans, exchanging knowing glances that say, “Can you believe a band this cool is known by so few?”
Great band, must-have record, out now on Slumberland and Static Shock Records.