I love rock music. I love to dance. Thankfully for me, then, The Pink Spiders’ new album, “Sweat It Out,” is the perfect fix.
“Sweat It Out” mixes Nashville-based The Pink Spiders’ knowledge of catchy pop with a true talent for playing rock. It’s flashy, while still managing to maintain a rocker reputation.
The album starts off strong, with “Busy Signals.” The opening guitar riff quickly spins into a great beat. If the song had to be described using one word, it would be “smooth.” It makes you sway from side to side, singing along.
Jumping into the next song, “Gimme Chemicals,” the feel of the album switches to an almost-retro sound, with catchy lyrics and a great guitar playing underneath the vocals. It, by far, has one of the catchiest choruses I’ve ever heard. After the song is over, I have an uncontrollable urge to click on iTunes and replay it.
The next couple of songs go by without any of them being especially memorable. It’s a strange concept, because while all of the songs on “Sweat It Out” sound different, the middle of the record blends together and becomes a blur.
However, the greatness of the album returns in track eight, “Settling for You.” Next to the definition of “power-pop” in the dictionary, it should read, “See ‘Settling for You,’ by the Pink Spiders.” There’s a fantastic arrangement of vocals over a fast-paced guitar. Listening to the song makes me think of something that would be played at a modernized sock hop.
My award for best song on “Sweat It Out” goes to “Sleeping on the Floor.” It’s pure fun, with strange lyrics (“I think I’m watching television/I’m not really sure”) and even a breakdown in the middle, with the lead singer talking about “a large cardboard cutout.” I can picture it as the perfect song for a group of friends having fun, singing karaoke on a Friday night.
“Sweat It Out” is danceable rock with a sense of humor. The CD as a whole isn’t fantastic, but individual songs are. It’s a record with glimmers of diamond among cubic zirconia.
The melodies contrast starkly to the lyrics of the music. At first listen, the songs seem like good clean power-pop. A closer look reveals sarcastic lyrics about drinking and partying. The CD has a similar feel to a musical soundtrack, a la “Spring Awakening.” It’s a strange comparison, yet not necessarily a bad one.
If there ever was a worldwide dance party, you can bet The Pink Spiders would be the perfect hosts. They have managed to create great songs made purely for having a good time. Be prepared to break a sweat dancing to “Sweat It Out.”
Kendal (Gapinski) Kloiber 