Stephen Butler knows a thing or two about the machinations of the music biz. His first band, Quincy, was discovered by Hilly Kristal, the colorful manager of New York’s CBGB’s, and subsequently signed to Columbia Records by former Zombies guitarist Paul Atkinson. Unfortunately, he also experienced the downside of the industry when Quincy Jones opted to sue the group for allegedly pilfering his name.
A tough break indeed, but nevertheless, Butler persevered. Regrouping as Smash Palace, he and various shifting line-ups released a string of superlative power pop albums that brought the band notice in their native Philadelphia and well beyond. It’s telling then that their new disc ends with a faithful read of George Harrison’s “I Want To Tell You.” After all, Butler and company have shored up their sound by effectively emulating the ‘60s sounds and styles that made the Beatles and their Brit rock contemporaries so effortlessly engaging. The evidence is obvious on songs such as “She,” “She Can’t Understand” and “Hoping,” all of which find the band adroitly echoing those ‘60s sensibilities. The chugging rhythms of “Dressed In Black,” the heads down determination of “Don’t Ask Me Why” and the straight-forward surge of “When You’re Down” further attest to their way with basic pop precepts.
Still, the most telling testament to Smash Palace’s influence comes in the Cars-like propulsion of “Didn’t Anyone Tell You?” as Butler waxes nostalgically about his fondness for his Kinks and Stones records. Let’s face it - there’s no better references than those.
--Lee Zimmerman
