I still marvel at Mary Strand’s ability to make music that reminds me of every great pop-rock band in my record collection; play her body of work in its entirety and it sounds like the most brilliant college rock playlist from back in the day. A blend of power-pop poise and punk energy, the infectious and the incendiary, melody and muscle, it ticks all the relevant boxes and then creates a few additional ones and ticks those too.
It’s a sound that has never really aged, not for us more discerning fans; partially because it is a style of music that found its perfect form way back, but mainly because of the songwriting prowess of Mary Strand and her sonic posse, ‘Annunciation’ is a beautiful and appealing riot of raw guitars and boisterous energies, a song that moves in equal parts with grace and groove and grit. It’s a sound built on nostalgic echos, the excitement of the present and the potential of a glorious rock and roll future being ushered in.
But of course, as great as the music is, Strand always has something important to tell us. As a Brit watching on from an ocean away, I often wonder why the right to openly carry cutting edge combat weapons whilst grabbing your morning coffee and bagel seems to be more entrenched in America’s idea of itself than the protection of school kids who risk being gunned down in the hallways just because they want to get an education. Why on earth don’t more people speak up, I ask myself? ‘Annunciation’ is the sound of at least one person speaking up.
And what might seem obvious to this overseas onlooker is probably a controversial issue in America today. As one British comedian said recently when talking to one of our colonial cousins in the audience of his show, “ If you didn’t have a mobile telephone and I gave you a mobile telephone, do you think you would be more likely or less likely to make a telephone call?”
Take all the time you need…
Another great song, a fantastic sound, but as always with Mary Strand, something important to think about. But then, what would I know about school shootings? I live in a country where they no longer happen.
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