Need to Know: ROOKIE
With our column, Need to Know, the Redefining Records team aims to give you exactly that. An extremely short, and concise review of a new release that only gives you the absolute bare-minimum you need to know in order to determine if it’s worth listening to.
ROOKIE
ROOKIE
IS IT WORTH LISTENING TO?
Yes, this album serves as a nicely updated 70’s rock soundtrack from some shaggy dudes you’ve probably never heard of.
BEST SONGS
One Way Ticket
Sunglasses
Hold On Tight
WHO’S IT FOR?
You say you like classic rock? This album is great for a wide variety of listeners, but full appreciation probably requires some understanding of where it comes from. It doesn’t take long to figure out that these guys grew up on their parents' record collections; you can hear the Cheap Trick, the Thin Lizzy and, in its best moments, the Big Star. Even the name of the lead track, “Hold On Tight” sounds like it could have been a Deep Purple deep-cut.
Nearly two years after the release of their first single and following a steady stream of gigs (including a tour with Cheap Trick), the twenty-somethings six-piece finally got their shit together and put together a full-length album. And while fans of Chicago's more notable young rock acts such as Twin Peaks and Post Animal may have already begun to explore the ROOKIE sound, the album has plenty to offer for newcomers.
WHAT’S GOOD?
You’ll have a hard time finding many modern rock bands that sound quite like ROOKIE do in that they’ve almost created their own category of classic rock revivalism. Although Greta Van Fleet, another midwestern group made famous for rock and roll reincarnation, may quickly come to mind, ROOKIE do a much better job of infusing a multitude of influences and are able to find their own sound in the process (rather than stealing one directly from Led Zeppelin).
At their peak, the band uses their power in numbers to turn an ageless and familiar distorted guitar into something brand new in a really comforting way. The best song on the album, “One Way Ticket” reaches its high point at the chorus when that wall of the guitar meets a slow-burning organ, making for a song that was born for Sirius XM’s Classic Rewind channel. “Let’s Get It Right” is one of many moments to feature a pretty gnarly guitar solo, proving again that they can really play. Not to mention these guys are really able to pull it all off in a live setting, despite all the moving parts.
THAT’S A BUMMER:
At times this album just feels a bit overproduced and the gritty edge that has brought many Chicago counterparts substantial success is often lacking. On certain songs, lead singer Max Leobman’s voice works really well. Other times you just want him to loosen up a bit, maybe give a little scream or holler just to take the edge off.
And while it makes for a really interesting concept sonically, the project leaves a bit to be desired lyrically. Such is the case with “You gotta hold on tight to your baby, swing and you’ll make her go crazy,” a line that didn’t necessarily make me go crazy. Oddly enough, their lyrical shortcomings partially dig them even deeper into that arena rock category.
ALL IN ALL:
This album is a fun one that begs not to be taken too seriously. A little dose of ROOKIE may be exactly what we need given the current state of our batshit crazy world.
