The great thing about being a collective is the breadth of talent you can incorporate into an eclectic sound. The flip side to that is you can come across incongruous and lacking focus. NYC chamber pop collective, The Sharp Things, walk a fine line between good band and interesting promo sampler.
The 99% need a theme, an anthem. I’ve been waiting for a resurgence of real punk rock; furious earsplitting guitar with whipsaw drums and lyrics that articulate the angst of the growing poor and disappearing middle class. There is a royal ass-fucking being had by all at the hands of an “elite” few working in fascist collusion with government. Debt is created to drive an insane war machine and make a small few mind-bogglingly wealthy while wiping out the rest of us. What was once a conspiracy theory is out in the open daring us to do anything about it. We need a rallying cry and although not punk, “Blame the Bankers” is the closest thing I’ve heard yet besides that Ron Paul song.
From there, TST move all over the place. “Here Comes the Maestro” is something like Power Station; an 80s power pop song. The sweet “Flowers for my Girl” has a bubblegum, 60s, Herman’s Hermits sound. TST puts a stamp on Green is Good with “Lights.” This was the first song I heard and it struck me with its “Eminence Front” meets Doves feel. And I don’t know why, but “Goodbye to Golders Green” sounds like a Dr. Feelgood era Crue power ballad played by The Replacements with a horn section. Make sense? I thought so.
Green is Good is drenched in keys, horns, strings, and vocal harmonies that expand the scope of traditional pop sounds. Every song may sound like a different band, but in a world with its iPod on shuffle it may be perfect.