The Common Men - Four - album review

After a couple of line-up changes, The Common Men are currently a 4-piece band based in San Francisco and this is their fourth album to date. I have been awaiting this promised release of the latest music with anticipation and eagerness - having enjoyed all three of the previous TCM offerings. Officially due for online release in a few days time, you can follow the progress and hear a couple of tracks from the new album for yourself HERE.

Individually:

Some Sunrise - sci-fi style intro/backing, typical/much loved TCM styled vox.

Seasons Revolt - spacey tinted music, guitar cycles, trilling sounds.

I Hope Your'e Alone - boomphy beat intro, circling music with accompanying regular TCM vox.

Nihilistic Young Love - low doze-vibe intro with twang, catchy tune, held together by the vox.

Over My Body - drummy-wheeeeeeze intro, powers into a spiraling under the strong vox, build-up interlude, making music of noise, the longest track at over 7 minutes.

Shoot The Night - wobble on stereo intro, the familiar and talented TCM vox trembles along with resonant sounds, less than 3 minutes long.

Whirl - literally whirls in with a host of sound and melody to which the typical TCM vox join before it whirls to a guitarry close.

The Same Ground As Me - bouncy guitar-based intro, this 6-minute track gives you melody, thrum, musical circlings and TCM style vox.

Lovers By Name Only - zoom-stick intro, a swirl of sounds coupled with distinctive TCM vocalization, fading out...

Overall, this album comes across as quite typical of TCM vocally, but mixed with new features in the form of experimental soundscapes under the catchy drum-play. Fans old and new should find these 9 tracks give mood and melody, rhythm and pace, zoom and zone. There is plenty to listen to inside the lyrics, but without loss of sway and dance-ability. Yes, this new album definitely gets my THUMBS UP!!