The Spirit of ’13
It looks like a bright Spring for fun-loving Brookyln bands this year. With hyper-punk chiptune band, Anamanaguchi, releasing their latest full-length, Endless Fantasy, next month, something needed to round that out. Team Spirit’s fast, loud take on teenage rock n’ roll is making its self-titled debut on Vice Records. Grab your shades and skateboard, kids; this is going to rule.
“Jesus He’s Alright” kicks off the EP with super jangly twee and pretty much anything that pumps energy into an ’80s-style pop song. It’s not like frontman Ayad Al Adhamy is a stranger to bright, candy-sweet music. You may recognize him from when he played synths for electro heartthrobs, Passion Pit.
“MRDR It’s OK” is pumped full of handclaps, early ’80s power pop guitars and a gang-vocal chorus. This is like Girls (the band…not the television show that makes you hate your 20s for not being as cool) if they ate a bunch of Cap’n Crunch and drank a gallon of RC Cola. Adhamy croons, “I think I’m missing you,” over and over in the happiest way, which means whatever demons were lurking around last year were exorcised simply by laying these words down to music.
The EP ends with “Phenomenom,” a total nod to power pop legends like 20/20, The Romantics, The Rubinoos and Cheap Trick. If this were 1979 and Adhamy decided to dress his gang in blue suits and mop tops, nearby shopping malls would be empty due to all the screamy teen bliss going on at Team Spirit’s shows. Whether Team Spirit instills some sort of nostalgic reaction to bubblegum of yesteryear, or just makes you want to play beach volleyball, it’s definitely an EP that gets you moving. Tap your desk. Shake your chair. Whatever. Show some spirit.
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