Brooklyn-based trio Shop Talk, following a series of singles and EPs the last three years, has just unleashed a self-titled album on One Track Mind Records/Revolver USA. Recorded in Nashville with James Mechan of The Sleeveens, this 11-song long player does something that's very hard to do: take obvious inspiration from first wave punk rock while still sounding contemporary and original.
If you've heard Shop Talk before, you know this isn't a band that's easy to pin down. But hey, why would you even want to? If I got into rock geek mode, I could say this band sounds a little bit like The Adverts might have if they'd come out of Los Angeles but listened to a lot of New York punk rock. The style is powerful, slightly moody melodic punk with intelligent lyrics and razor-sharp hooks. I'm not surprised at all that someone with impeccable taste like Henry Rollins is a fan. Also not surprising is that James Mechan was able to elicit such a perfect recording for a punk rock record. Jon Garcia's guitars really pack a punch but never overwhelm Tristan Griffin's nimble, hard-driving bass lines. The sound is crisp but not excessively polished. Garcia, who mixed the album, and Mikey Young, who mastered it, really get what timeless punk rock ought to sound like. The songs are lean and well-crafted, and they manage to create a dreary-ish mood while still radiating pure energy. I appreciate that the band re-recorded some of its earlier tracks ("Ramona," "Black Friar," "Camp Hero", "Mirage of Love") for this release. They were too good to leave off a full-length album, and they fit in perfectly with new scorchers such as "SOS," "Love Dart," and "Terra Damnata." Clocking in at less than 27 minutes, this album is definitely an all-killer, no-filler experience. If you love first wave punk rock but perhaps lean towards some of the more progressive bands of that movement, Shop Talk is a current band that ought to be on your radar.
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