Review Summary: Mellon Collie and the Infinite Happiness.
So…a Hanson brother, a Smashing Pumpkin, Stacey’s mom and a dude from Cheap Trick walk into a studio.
You might think that the strangest, and possibly most hilarious, musical joke is about to be set up here; but the joke will be on you once you find out that not only is such a hybrid a true story, but said hybrid have made one of the sharpest pop records of this year. Tinted Windows, the name by which this supergroup goes by, is a collision course of vintage pop, catchy harmonies and very heavy guitar tones that manages to somehow come together in an exceptionally cohesive manner, despite a few obvious flaws.
Let’s brief- up front is Taylor
Hanson, singing his little heart out like it was 1997 again. His voice has matured and has more of a rock sensibility to it these days (see second single and highlight “Messing With My Head”, as well as “We Got Something”), but it has unquestionably remained distinctive and thoroughly enjoyable.
On guitar is James Iha, best known as the cornerstone of the classic
Smashing Pumpkins lineup. Just because he’s playing pop music now, sure as hell doesn’t mean he’s cutting back on loud, thick guitar lines. The guitar pedal workout Iha gets on tracks like “Kind of a Girl” and “Can’t Get a Read on You” are somewhat contrasting with its surroundings, but nevertheless assist the songs in having that exciting sugar-rush edge to it, helping a lot of the tracks in their replay value.
Bassist Adam Schlesinger, meanwhile, has a reputation to uphold-
Fountains of Wayne aside, he’s also worked and written with everyone from They Might Be Giants to the Jonas Brothers. His lyrics get a little cheesy throughout the album – centralising around classic puppy-love themes – but he makes up for it by not only making schmaltz incessantly likeable, but providing a solid backbone to each of the songs, with both his bass and rhythm guitar blending into the soundscapes quite skilfully - something, you can be sure, that would come from the pop production experience Schlesinger has.
Finally, up the back is Bun E. Carlos, a legendary pop drummer but a decidedly odd choice to be playing with these whippersnappers (Carlos turns fifty-eight next month). It’s strange on paper…but once you hear the music itself, two things come to mind. The first is how vibrant the drums sound, giving copious, dance-inducing energy to the album’s more upbeat tracks. The second is just how much of an influence Carlos’ main band,
Cheap Trick, plays in the songs themselves – a heavy dose of power-pop, shout-along choruses and a classic devil-may-care musical attitude. Sure, the Trick are a little naff these days, and what Tinted Windows are doing isn’t entirely original; but Carlos himself seems to be having a ball, and who are we to argue with that?
Snobby Pitchfork-types are sure to give Hanson and co. a hard time for
Tinted Windows, as are die-hard Pumpkins fans (you can almost hear the cries of “YOU SOLD OUT, MAN!” right away); and lyrics like “Without love, you got nothing to live for” and “I believe in you and me/You know this is the way it’s meant to be” are pretty stock-standard love dedications. Still, there’s simply no escaping just how well these four know pop music – respectively, they’re responsible for songs like “MMMbop”, “Today”, “I Want You to Want Me”, “That Thing You Do!”…and the list goes on. Their musicianship fares well through the record, and it’s quite a lot of fun for both band and listener. Loosen up for a change.
Tinted Windows is the musical equivalent of the boy next door, and he’s just asked you out on a date. Now, let’s go for a dance.
