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The Loons – Red Dissolving Rays of Light (Bomp!)

22 June 2010

MIKE STAX is best-known as the garage rock/psych fanatic that publishes the long-running rag Ugly Things, but since the turn of the ‘aughties he’s put his money where his mouth is as leader of the LOONS. Despite choosing to work exclusively in the Nuggets milieu, Stax’s band doesn’t sound overly retro – as with likeminded troop the CHESTERFIELD KINGS, the Loons simply treat this music as if it’s as contemporary and relevant as anything created with samples or gushed on American Idol. The band bashes, crashes and jangles with the best of ‘em, and Stax has a forceful Jaggeresque yowl. But Red Dissolving Rays of Light works because of that most basic of reasons: good songs. With strong melodies and well-crafted lyrics, tunes like the folk rocking “A Last Goodbye,” the lush popping “Summer’s End” and the barnburning “Between Grey Slates” are just cool tracks, nostalgia be damned. The excellent Red Dissolving Rays of Light will be of interest to anyone who likes catchy, melodic rock & roll, not just 60s revivalists. GLENN ROSS CAMPBELL of the MISUNDERSTOOD guests on psychedelic steel guitar.

http://bomp.com