It was barely more than a month ago that I heard
The Wanteds on local radio here in Portland, and now here I am reviewing the upcoming album,
Failure Looks so Good, by the Oregonian band. For followers of the Northwest music scene, past and present, the album should be both fresh and familiar, with a modern indie attitude and 90s alt-rock guitar riffs that are a real blast from the past.
The Wanteds have taken the best parts of Portland's rock heritage and created a sincere, heartfelt homage to the music that brought the whole region into the spotlight of the greater music scene.
The album exudes quality and complexity, showcasing the band's powerful songwriting skills and the kind of chemistry that only comes from people who truly enjoy playing together. The album opener and first radio single, Ladysmith, is a fast hitting rock song that exemplifies everything this album is about. Distorted riffs and delicious hooks lay a solid foundation for the whole experience, taking musical themes and growing them into explosive crescendos of emotive music. Solos are memorable and sound like they were taken straight out of the mid-90s. Likewise, frontman Tommy Harrington's evocative voice is reminiscent of vocalists such as Billy Corgan juxtaposed against a rougher indie vibe. The two styles complement each other, creating vocal melodies which are never musically perfect, but are well suited for emotional music that maintains edginess.
The rhythm section is equally engaging, with tight drumming and a variety of fills which give the album a snappy pace befitting this style of music. Ryan Mullen rounds out the trio with bass lines that manage to back up the rest of the band while remaining independent enough to create their own intertwining harmonies. The songwriting is well structured and leaves little room for sloppiness. That includes songwriting which is emotionally charged and honest, an obvious result of the band drawing from their own experiences.
Aside from pacing which stumbles slightly towards the middle of the album, The Wanteds have struck gold with Failure Looks so Good. Combining a potent formula with broad appeal, The Wanteds are set to do anything but fail with this record which is set to release in September.
