Show Head try to reclaim pop music Joseph W. W Bateman Contributing Writer With the Pussycat Dolls and Jessica Simpson dominating the charts in the name of pop it is good to see a band try to reclaim the lost genre Based in New NewYork NewYork NewYork York Head is trying to do just that With their critically critically cally acclaimed debut album Decadence as well as the recently only ihnes-only release Pop Rocks the band is poised to make a difference to true pop lovers everywhere While most independent bands would avoid labeling themselves as pop vocalist and frontman Daryl Palumbo takes the opposite approach Contemporary American pop is so tasteless and phony Palumbo said in the bio posted on the bands band's official why no one in America wants to say they're in a pop band So many kids who start punk pop-punk bands insist they're not pop The singer of seminal hardcore hardcore hardcore hard hard- core band Palumbo launched Head as a fun side project to the angst found in He would go goon goon goon on to meet legendary Dan the 1 i Automata who is well-known well for his DJ work with as well as Handsome Boy Modeling School Palumbo's sung now-sung vocals would be paired with Dan the Automatons old school hip- hip hop beats In August 2004 Head released their highly anticipated debut album Decadence Brooklyn is Burning the lead single from Decadence begins with an infectious style disco-style beat followed followed fol fol- fol- fol lowed by a horn intro then comes Palumbo singing I feel the fire ignite I hear I hear the people I cry see all the people now I got I got what the people want Palumbo must know what hes he's taking about Immediately after the release Decadence charted charted charted chart chart- ed on the Billboard Magazine Top Albums bums and the Top charts Head has already put their mark on the pop world Rolling Stone went on to review Decadence stating the album is brimming with reggae beats rock garage-rock tumult and Palumbo going on about discotheques discotheques discotheques dis dis- dance parties and people who done him wrong Its retro-funky retro grooves are slinky y sexy and very now Riding on the success of Decadence Head would do several headlining tours with bands such as Interpol and The Used Taking a break from touring g the band went to work on their sophomore album which will be released on June 6 In an interview on Palumbo discerned between his pop recordings and contemporary contempo contempo- pop music Its a very intensity high aggressive pop record said Palumbo Its not a Pop record in in the sense of mainstream commercial commercial commercial com com- mercial pop there are a lot of four-chord four progressions but this album more reflects to a period where pop was something else Nearly two months before the official release the band took a revolutionary approach by bv releasing four out of the 13 total toc tracks exclusively site on music musie site The release is titled Rocks Pop Although not one of the the- tracks one track off upcoming includes guest vocals from My ChemiCal Romances Romance's Gerard Way The standout track from Rocks is Pop P Laughing 8 at You Head Automat Ica Coat Cont on Page 8 0 r s1 1 Ik Head Cont from Page 6 where Palumbo sings Welcoming you to Cardboard City where I think they're laughing at your band Did you have a clue Another notable track is Graduation Day where a slow playing piano deceptively deceptively deceptively leads the track off into a crescendo of guitars and drums The chorus has Palumbo singing Graduation Day Day We take back everything we said about you While the groups group's previous ous work represented pop- pop infused hop hip-hop the songs off Pop Rocks would be bemore bemore bemore more straightforward pop songs Instead of returning with Dan the the group chose Howard Benson the alternative rock producer known for his work with POD and Cold The shift in producers is the most notable difference between the two albums Despite the slightly different different different dif dif- dif dif- ferent styles the new songs retain the contagiousness of previous Head releases Its a True Pop Rock and Roll record Palumbo said aid about the new songs in the inter inter- view With the set to hit stores on June 6 Head might just steal the name pop from the mainstream heavyweights heavyweights heavyweights heavy heavy- weights that currently hold the title Head is currently currently currently cur cur- on tour opening for and Cambria and Avenged Sevenfold which came to Saltair last weekend week week- end The Pop Rocks EP is isnow isnow isnow now available for download exclusively on |