| Team Rockit only give us 5 songs to go on
their 3rd release, but it's enough to make any rock-loving Chicagoan proud. From the
glorious breakneck speed of their Cheap Trick-inspired "I'm Your Friend," with
its twisted twanged out guitars, and coda of "(Don't ever think that) I'm your
friend," they get off to a good start in 2 minutes and 51 seconds.
From there, they display sonic versatility and a
penchant for the same sort of 70s rock groove rock Urge Overkill mined later in their
career--easy to like, but hard to capture convincingly. But they do as they update those
elements with interesting chiming, chunky and woozy guitar sounds, even ska bits, and
rock-solid bashing complements of drummer Matt Friscia from Chicago legends The Poster
Children. "She Wants us to Stay," the longest song at 3:25, is a tour-de-force
in the vein of Grand Funk or, oh I don't know, Marc Bolan. Vocals go from buried and
distorted verses to anthemic harmonized choruses as on the rollicking "Friendz 4 Life
(Like it or Not)," but they're never annoying or off the mark.
Team Rockit aren't trying to fit into any
formulas, they're making their own, and it shows. Unlike a lot of power pop/punk groups,
they do guitar solos, but they're such good, musical solos they're not annoying or showy.
And unlike a lot of groups, it's obvious that while they take their music seriously, they
don't take themselves too seriously. The trio tends to release short records and thinks
that "most albums aren't even worth listening to all the way through." True
enough, but these 17 or so minutes of powerful, tuneful rock and roll will definitely
leave you wanting more. Keep the songs short, that's only right, just give us more Team
Rockit!
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