PWR BTTM may be the first queercore band to skirt the mainstream. Pageant may decide if they can cross the horizon and join the professional ranks. They are not cut from the bluesy two-piece template of The Black Keys, The White Stripes or The Bonnevilles, PWR BTTM are closer to nineties pop rockers Wheatus. The falsetto vocals, the crashing guitars and the exuberant inventiveness are reminiscent of their fellow New Yorkers. That early to mid-nineties vibe evoked on Pageant includes Wheatus’ peers Weezer and The Frames. In fact, some of Ben Hopkins’ vocals are uncannily like those of Glen Hansard.

Often you’ll hear a local band and be so surprised by their sound you expect to hear that they are from somewhere exotic like New York. PWR BTTM are the opposite; a band from the Big Apple that sounds like they belong in Dublin’s Workman’s Club sharing a bill with Thumper and Oh Boland.

The band’s broad range of influences are apparent from the off. ‘Silly’ opens with a Rush-like pedal riff from Ben Hopkins and explodes into a heavy rock crescendo. ‘Answer My Text’ is ridiculous in the vein of The Darkness’ hard rock silliness but it tells a relatable story of uncertainty in a burgeoning relationship. It starts with a simple power chord reminiscent of Weezer’s ‘Beverly Hills’ and it shares some of that songs faux-aspirational sneer. It’s obvious when the chorus hits why it was selected as the single. The harmonies are heavenly and the hook is a pop classic.

Liv Bruce’s wry take on non-binary gender experiences in ‘New Trick’ would sit comfortable on Weezer’s blue album. Ben Hopkins lyrics from ‘Sissy’ stick in your mind:

“Why does every boy on the street have something to tell me? // Why does every boy on the street have something to say? // Why does every man in a suit have something to sell me? //And what would I give just to make them all go away?”

It’s not all perfect either. The Damien Rice-isms of recent single ‘LOL’ are best avoided, even if it picks up after the chorus. In fact, there are quite a number of duds on Pageant, not least the title track. The hit to miss ratio is about 50:50 but the songs that hit are glorious.

When there is a lot of hype around a band, it can be hard for the material to live up to expectation. I’ve been seeing PWR BTTM everywhere for months and avoided listening to them so I wouldn’t get caught up in it but here we are with their second album and it’s a wee cracker, even if it is flawed. It’s not a start-to-finish listen but the unforgettable songs and brazen charm of the duo make Pageant one of the better albums of the year so far. You can expect to see it on many end-of-year-lists. It’s not spectacular or overblown, it is just catchy, punchy, heavy and pleasingly histrionic.

Pageant is available via Amazon and iTunes. 

You're Not As___As You Think is Sorority Noise’s latest, powerful and dramatically uneasy ride through the depths of darkness and beyond. Produced by Mike Sapone (Brand New, Taking Back Sunday), You're Not As___As You Think is at times cautiously delicate yet equally ferocious and full of bite. There are remarkable emo-tinged similarities to acts such as Brand New and The Early November, however, Sorority Noise somehow manage to show off an uneasy, playful characteristic also.

With its whirlwind of hearty intensity and utter vulnerability heard through every screaming vocal, the record has truly been given nothing but the most honest of treatments. Singer/guitarist Cameron Boucher hasn't shied away from detailing best friend tragedies or the gloomy ideas that live within the frontman’s mind. No mental picture or school of thought is left unconsidered and this is something that makes You're Not As___As You Think such an absorbing release.

Dominance of striking sounding drums and alluring guitars are the core to a vocal performance that has the ability to chop and change with every subject matter being covered. Continually questioning relatable topics of annoyance, uncertainty and desire, Boucher is able to bring his expression to life with imagery that grows more robust with each note he sings.

‘No Halo’ is a highlight and as album opener, it sets the tone for the unforeseen journey that Sorority Noise are about to embark on for the rest of the record. Hard-hitting, unadulterated and packed with unmitigated hopefulness, You're Not As___As You Think is the light at the end of the tunnel. At a time where throughout the world and emotional uncertainty is shared by so many, Sorority Noise are making sure that we understand we are all on this crazy trip together. 

You're Not As___As You Think is available via Amazon and iTunes.