Hunx And His Punx - Too Young To Be In Love (Hardly Art)

Hunx (a.k.a. Seth Bogart) And His Punx have captured what I imagined a trip to the corner malt shop in the 1950’s to be like. For someone my age, the only visual references I have are from Back to The Future and Happy Days re-runs. With something like that as a backdrop, I hear this updated, fuzzier 50’s American pop. And it’s not just the style that is reminiscent of those times, the fact that the songs are predominantly about that special someone. And while this doesn’t affect the integrity of the music one iota, I do find it fascinating and refreshing that songs that feature the male protagonist professing his feelings to another man in a style from an era where such thing was unheard of (not that some Americans have been so enlightened).

For me, the highlights on this album (and there are many) are not so much the Ronettes-like tracks (though they are good like “That’s The Curse Of Being Young,”) but the more up-tempo numbers. “If You’re Not Here”, which kicks off the second half is just down right fantastic. The rest of the side is stellar as well. “Tonite Tonite,” is a fun live in the moment cut. The record seems to tell a story, whether intentional or not, about boy meets boy, they fall in love, and decide to run away. Maybe that’s just what it’s saying to me or that I’ve seen too many movies. One thing is for sure, Too Young To Fall In Love is a fun listen and good a trip to this era gone by short of going to a sock hop.

Band’s Myspace
Hardly Art Website