The Rewinds: The Rewinds

It’s a long way to Tipperary, it’s a long way to go… oops, I mean it’s a long way from Alabama to Minnesota. The Rewinds are from Alabama, but they have not one iota of Skynard or any Southern rock in them. Instead, they sound like disciples of The Replacements and/or Soul Asylum judging by the amount of well-crafted pop rock material, as heard in the sweet harmonies of “New Shade Of Red”, but without the urgent, frantic energy. It’s a solid start that sees the song’s throttle open up for the homestretch. They find that energy later on with the the simultaneously pretty yet brawny “See You In The Underground”. Meanwhile, “Everytime” is a simpler but delectable ditty that sounds like a cross between Franz Ferdinand and Big Star. It’s good, but not great. Some tracks, like “Ghostriders”, lack that little extra oomph to put them over the edge despite drummer Brooks Marks working triple time, at times. “Fascination” is a mix of Brit pop with California summer sounds, resulting in a rather interesting tune, but the band strikes Midwestern gold with “Sentimental Flaw”, a song that oozes smart, infectious pop rock. The same shall be said for “Voice In My Head” and the slow brewing “Melody” that has a nice, er, melody. Perhaps the surprise, here, is how well “It’s Not The End” turns out: a cross between The Rembrandts and Sloan. And things end with a strolling, Elliott Smith-like “Calling Your Name”.