Fronted by singer/guitarist JOHNNY LLOYD, U.K. combo OPERAHOUSE makes a bid for U.S. attention with Genius Child. Lloyd and his gang mix ‘n’ match a bit of Big Music melodrama here, some Britpop hookiness there, wrapped in contemporary production sheen on three songs that don’t fit comfortably in any plainly-marked box. “Genius Child” and “Change in Nature” rock in that particularly melodic but modest English way, while “Criminals” has a grand sweep not unlike early 70s glam rock balladry. The tunes and performances are appealing enough, but it’s really Lloyd’s willowy voice, reminiscent of GAZ COOMBES from SUPERGRASS, that gives the tracks their character. The EP ends with a Sam Vandal remix of “Change in Nature” that, for me, gets real old real quick, but fans of that sort of thing may find it tolerable.
http://www.myspace.com/operahouse.hq
http://www.tiswasnyc.com
