Tag: Township

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Township – Will O’ The Wisp EP (2014)

township will o the wisp ep
Township
Will O’ The Wisp EP
2014

With the Will O’ The Wisp EP, Township wraps up a summer of fantastic releases. The band have put out 4 EPs these dog days. Their latest starts with a title track of prog-epic proportions. Phase-shifted guitars and pensive melodies yield to big harmonies, a snarling riff and a grand outro at the 3:02 mark. “The Beggar’s Doubt” is a standout track, painted in shades of Zeppelin folk and Fleetwood Mac. The EP wraps up with the stomping “U”. Township bring out the big riffs and guitarmony one more time before walking off into the autumnal sunset.

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Township – A.L.A.N. EP (2014)

township alan ep
Township
A​.​L​.​A​.​N. EP
2014

Township are looking to make this summer a memorable one by releasing a bunch of EPs, the first of which came out just in time for Memorial Day weekend. A​.​L​.​A​.​N. EP kicks off with the epic space jam that is the title track before kicking up a massive dust cloud on “Where The Sorrow Lies.” Two-for-two out of the gate without looking back, “Oh, Mother (Where Art Thou)” launches into guitarmonies that fall somewhere between Iron Maiden and Thin Lizzy. That’s a perfect place to be. Let me know when the next EP comes out. I’ll be right here.

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Boston Does Boston Vol. 1 & 2 (2013)

boston does boston
Various Artists
Boston Does Boston Vol. 1 & 2
2013

Boston Does Boston Vol. 1 & 2 is out. It’s 26 tracks of Boston bands covering each other to raise money for the Animal Rescue League of Boston. Read all about it right here. This is my first time through the collection. I’ve been waiting to listen until I had time to go end-to-end all at once. I’m jotting down some notes. Let’s see what happens…

  • “Get Away” (Township covering Jenny Dee and the Deelinquents) – Hell, yes! I love the original. This version is just Township doing their thing. We’re off to a good start.
  • “Bright” (Will Dailey covering Reverse) – Yes and yes. The original sings with supersaturated glory. This version kicks back. Perfect.
  • “True Star” (Reverse covering I, Pistol) – Reverse gets a cool groove going on this I, Pistol tune. Sweet harmonies and guitar lines. Three songs in and this collection is blowing my mind a bit.
  • “Amylee” (I, Pistol covering The Michael J. Epstein Memorial Library) – When in doubt, rock it out. Especially when it sounds this natural.
  • “A Madness To His Method” (The Michael J. Epstein Memorial Library covering Gene Dante & the Future Starlets) – The “watch me falling down” parts on this version sound really good.
  • “Trainwreck” (Gene Dante & The Future Starlets covering Miss Fairchild) – Everything Gene Dante touches is delightfully seedy. This cover is no exception.
  • “Costumes” (Miss Fairchild covering Mr. Vertigo) – Tremolicious.
  • “Sleeping Alone” (Mr. Vertigo covering The Field Effect) – A modern-rock-radio-ready take on a stripped back Field Effect tune.
  • “The Sun Shines” (The Field Effect covering Sidewalk Driver) – Come on. The Field Effect covering Sidewalk Driver? Do you know me? Thank you Boston Does Boston.
  • “Straitjacket” (Sidewalk Driver covering The Luxury) – Sidewalk Driver make magic. When the boy/girl vocals meet up with the bop-baddas, good things happen.
  • “Infinity Minor” (The Luxury covering Ted Billings) – Meticulously layered and melodic.
  • “Celebrate” (Ted Billings covering Garvy J.) – A spunked up and stripped down take on the Garvy J. anthem.
  • “Pavement Prophet” (Garvy J. covering Sarah Rabdau and Self-Employed Assassins) – Subtly glorious. Shrouded in mystery and synthesizers.
  • “Rian” (Jenny Dee and The Deelinquents covering Township) – Jenny Dee and The Deelinquents return the favor, turning a Township tune into one of their own. Geez. These cats are good.
  • “No God in Massachusetts” (Sarah Rabdau & Self-Employed Assassins covering Dead Cats Dead Rats) – Whoa. That was unexpected. Sarah turned herself inside out without losing sight of who she is. Impressive.
  • “On Fire” (Dead Cats Dead Rats covering The Lights Out) – Blistering take on an already rippin’ tune.
  • “Atom Bomb” (The Lights Out covering Walter Sickert and the Army of Broken Toys) – There’s still some grit under the nails, but steamcrunk cleans up nicely. Nice pairing.
  • “The Ladder” (Walter Sickert & the Army of Broken Toys covering Black Thai) – Still heavy. Possessed vocal. Possessed viola.
  • “Less Talk, More Rokk” (Black Thai covering Freezepop) – Yes, yes, yes and more yes! Black Thai slay the synth-pop giant.
  • “Sweater Weather” (Freezepop covering Parks) – Look, a perfect pop song is a perfect pop song, OK? Proof.
  • “Badfinger Bridge” (Parks covering Corin Ashley) – A natural pairing with a lovely bouquet.
  • “Marigold” (Corin Ashley covering The Curtain Society) – I’m not familiar with the original, but this version is lovely.
  • “Birds Fly Information” (The Curtain Society covering Here We Just Dream) – Poppy. Trippy. Melodic. Great guitar solo.
  • “The Most Beautiful Thing” (Here We Just Dream covering Sarah Blacker) – There are a lot of nice, subtle touches in this one.
  • “Whiskey” (Three Day Threshold covering Nemes) – Three Day Threshold singing about whiskey? Shocking.
  • “Kindness” (Nemes covering Will Dailey) – Impressive shared vocals and a wonderful sentiment. Nice way to end the comp.

Yeah, so this is great. All you have to do now is download this thing and enjoy it yourself. Oh, and maybe check out one of the live events happening this weekend.

Where to get it:

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Township – Coming Home (2007)


Township
Coming Home
2007

Township continued the retro-rocking ways of their early EPs on their first full length album, Coming Home. These songs sound like a mix of every ‘70s AOR act you can think of. Foghat? Check. Thin Lizzy? Hell yeah. Heart, The Doobie Brothers, Styx and Kansas? You betcha. Kiss? Check out the “100,000 Years” breakdown and Ace Frehley guitar licks in “Big Bad.” How you feel the big bands of that decade will be a good gut check for how you might feel about Coming Home.

Township dishes out solid classic-rock-inspired fare throughout the record. Coming Home still has the big rock songs you expect from the band. “Millions Of People” has hit single written all over it. “Highway” has some nasty guitar riffs (reminding me of Witchcraft during the breakdown). “Round The Dust” has some cool tempo changes. We also see the guys spreading their wings a bit more.* “Baby Rock Me” is an adventurous ballad with a long slow build. “With You All Along” ventures into Pink Floyd territory.

Township nails the sound of ’70s rock on Coming Home. Check it out if that’s your thing.

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* …and song length. Two of the songs exceed eight minutes in length.

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Township @ Brighton Music Hall 10.1.2011

The CD release party for Township’s latest effort, One More Summer, was a nonstop barrage of bitchin’ riffs and man hair.

I’m glad there are bands like Township in 2011. Bands that pay tribute at the altar of Thin Lizzy. Bands that embrace guitarmony. Bands that know some records sound best blasting from a car stereo with the windows down. More power to ’em.

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Township – Ladywood (2007)


Township
Ladywood
2007

Township has a brand new record coming out this weekend. I thought It would be fun to look back at the first release I picked up from the band a few years ago.

Township has ‘70s boogie down to a science on Ladywood. Throughout the four song EP, the band successfully channels Foghat, Mountain and Thin Lizzy without completely aping their forefathers’ sounds.

It’s all good fun even if it has been done before. The songs have big sing-along hooks and good old fashioned solos. While the guitars grab your attention first, it’s worth noting John Sheeran’s exceptional bass playing. His parts are melodic and always fit the groove of the song. Marc Pinansky has a voice that suits the material well.

I originally picked up Ladywood for the song “Give It To It”. It’s a classic rock monster. What sold me on Township is that the rest of the EP does not disappoint. “Summer Of Dudes” sounds like it could have been an AM rock radio staple. The verses of “Moanin’” hint at early Aerosmith, with slinky guitar riffs and stunted adolescence lyrics. “S.O.S” has a reggae tinged verse and a driving chorus which may be the high point of this collection.

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