May be THE best reissue of power pop for 2010! Well, it`s actually not really a `reissue` technically. Fans of Paul Collins`Beat, The Plimsouls, 20/20 and The Laughing Dogs you-are-gonna-FREAK! Formed in 1977 in NYC by Arthur Alexander (ex-Poppees), Joey Cola, Ricky Street and Jett Harris (ex-Poppees), SORROWS were all about the songs. Their tunes are filled with strong melodies, irresistible hooks and creative harmonies supported by their powerful backbeat and hard driving guitars. Their two albums on CBS have never been available on CD but `Bad Times Good Times` will do perfectly because the best material form those records are here in a outstanding, high production quality different versions than appeared on their major label effort and, you know something? The songs here are *superior* to their major label counterparts. Exciting? Beyond that for old school power poppers. Just listen below - ENJOY. "Unless one is a slavish fan who`ll accept anything with three catchy chords and some harmonies, a power pop fan has to really take the time to separate the wheat from the chaff.
In the case of Sorrows, fire up the oven and get ready to make fresh bread. The band released a couple of LPs on CBS back in the very early 80s, but Bad Times Good Times doesn`t contain any of those tracks, drawing instead from demos and alternate takes that would later appear on the debut Teenage Heartbreak. Care was taken either during the original recordings or during the digital transfer, because the cuts sound great- clear and full without being slick. Of course, sound quality is a non-issue if the material sucks, which this most certainly doesn`t. Having evolved from the With the Beatles-obsessed Poppees, you`d think Sorrows would have an equally fervent Fab Four jones. But instead frontguys Arthur Alexander and Joey Cola freely mix their Lennon/McCartney stylings with bits of the Who, Badfinger, Nuggets and the R&B that inspired all those folks in the first place. The band excels at dreamy ballads like the"Silver Cloud"and soaring pop tunes like the glorious "Can`t Go Back," but its real forte is rockers. "econd Chance," "Teenage Heartbreak", "Television" and the title track practically boil over with rock & roll energy, jolting the pop sugar with caffeine strained through *Chuck Berry*`s coffee filter. Not a false note is struck nor a dissonant chord jangled. Sorrows mix salty and sweet in a most savory way, and Bad Times Good Times will be enough to satisfy even the pickiest power pop jones."- Big Takeover. "4 stars. For folks who`ve been wondering when Sorrows` Teenage Heartbreak would ever arrive on CD, Bad Times, Good Times isn`t the next best thing, it`s an actual improvement over the already fine original, and rescues one of the better pop bands of the `80s from oblivion; folks who like their rhythms peppy, their guitars ringing, and their harmonies tight will find lots to love on this collection. " - AMG Grade: Solid, across the board.
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