Rating: Sweet-Heavy-Catchy-RockEarl Greyhound’s “S.O.S.” has been circling around the internet helping to tag the band as the “next big thing” in rock, at least in New York. The three-piece unwillingly earn comparisons to Wolfmother, which is pretty ridiculous, but I get it. EG are way catchier and skilled in the “rock” sense because they truly “rock.” They also write songs that are more refined, detailed, and powerful without sounding transparent. Making music like this is not an easy task, but this power-trio give the genre a burst of flavor that I haven’t heard in a long time.Earl Greyhound is a stunning band to listen to, and you can almost picture them going off at your venue of choice as you careen through each sugar-coated track. The single “S.O.S.” is a banger for sure. But after you get through the entire album you’ll realize that songs like the T. Rex infused “All Better Now” and the Led Zeppelin stomp of “Like a Doggy” are just as precise like those classic bands were. “Monkey” has too many great riffs to keep track of as bassist Kamara Thomas and drummer Big Ricc Sheridan, his arms look like canons in the press photo, shame just about every rhythm section from coast to coast.The band also demonstrates depth and restraint in their guitar attack and multi-filled drumming on “Good.” The passionate Kamara Thomas belts out some dynamite backing vocals adding a more soulful touch to the song. She also takes the helm on the charging “Back and Forth” commanding sweet melodies of her own. Vocalist/guitarist Matt Whyte continues to melt your speakers with epic riffs and a sound that is equally heavy and crystal clear. The guy just can’t help himself.I wish I would have picked up on this album back when it was released in August. It would have been nice to see them get more recognition for this effort compared to the loads of indie-rock that dominates the inter-press. Whether or not Soft Targets will stand the test of time compared to this year’s highlights is a debatable, but I’m all in on these guys.
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