If we are in the middle of a 90's reunion clearly someone forgot to tell Shannon and the Clams. You see Shannon and her Clams are firmly entrenched in recording as if it were 1962. This is a three piece group that so fully embraces early rock and roll that you'd swear these guys were well into their 70's and somehow stumbled upon a record label to record them. Clearly in their 20's, however, Shannon and the Clams are obviously in love with the pure, simple sounds of early rock and roll and their album Dreams In The Rat House is a living tribute to it.
Much like the Pipettes, Shannon and the Clams are far from a novelty act; these guys have legitimately good songs and enough pop sensibility to write tunes that bear hug you with hooks. This is modern day doo wop and the sort of thing that would probably make their grand-parents proud of. Dreams In The Rat House isn't the sound of rebellion or angst but pure unadulterated fun and is seemingly from a time when rock and roll was subversive and new. Dreams In The Rat House is an awesome record that's the perfect blend of garage rock rawness, doo wop love songs, and swoony pop in a sugary rush of un-coolness.
Raw, under produced and ridiculously authentic sounding, Dreams In The Rat House channels it's inner Ricky Nelson perfectly. I love this record, it's simplicity, purity and goodness is simply irresistible. I wish more bands would discover the classic goodness of early rock and roll like Shannon and the Clams have and embrace a time when music was fresh and fun. It was a brilliant time of discovery, creativity, and honesty...something that the music industry and music in general is lacking today.
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