New York power pop band
Bridges and Powerlines (formerly known as Sunspots) makes a strong impression on its debut release, a five-song, 16-minute EP. The group harks back to '80s British post-punk band
Gang of Four, the choppy chording of the rhythm guitar particularly recalling the sound of that predecessor. But it also recalls the sound of some '60s garage bands in its combination of hard, guitar-driven rock and pop melodies. Singer/keyboardist Andrew Wood uses his instrument for color effects, one example of the surprising sophistication of an apparently simple style, and the group's willingness to change tempos is another indication that there is more going on musically than just thrashing about. Among contemporary bands, the closest approximation may be
the Killers, and that would seem to bode well for commercial possibilities. A full-length CD may explore that potential. ~ William Ruhlmann