Posted on: March 20, 2008 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

It’s a risky business to meet your musical heroes. They can shatter your illusions in a word. Or they can turn out to be the people you dream them to be.

So far, The Teenage Prayers are two-for-two on the winning side of that equation. In 2005, Grammy-winning soul legend Solomon Burke offered to produce a final track for their first album, Ten Songs, flew the New York group to LA and did just that. In 2006, Steve Wynn — founder of the Dream Syndicate and 30-year hero of the DIY rock world — watched The Teenage Prayers open a gig for him. He, too, offered to produce them. The result: “Everyone Thinks You’re the Best.”

“Everyone Thinks You’re the Best” is filled with raucous melodies, a truly dislocated sense of time and place and lyrics that explore the dark corners of manhood and mankind. Touching many points on the musical spectrum, the album cavorts through garage rock, glam, America‘s south, soul, gospel, reggae, bossa nova, and Teutonic stomp. Amazingly, the diverse menu always sounds like The Teenage Prayers.

Lead singer Tim Adams, who has been called “a cross between James Brown and Isaac Brock” (of Modest Mouse) by the Boston Phoenix, is one of the band’s signature elements; brotherly harmonies by guitarist Terrence Adams provide perfect counterpoint. The rhythm section of Kyle Chrise on bass and Kyle Wills on drums, underpins the oddly familiar yet totally unique sound of this band. Adam Schatz on keys and Bethany Chase on vocals round out the richness and complexity.

“Frontman Tim Adams comes with the drama and energy so lacking in indie-rock these days and his brother Terry is adept at riffing on soul music as he is with the classic rock. The songs on this album promise you a bright future should you indulge.” Bruce Warren, WXPN- Philadelphia.

 

Fri, 3.28 TT the Bear’s, Boston MA (Boston CD Release Show)

Sat, 4.5 Soundfix, Brooklyn, NY (New York CD Release Show)

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