The WIND-UPS channel the RAMONES with the grit and noise of that band’s first records. The power chords come with the fuzz and crackle of a demo cassette, but without feeling too contrived. The songs are breezy and fun if you can let your guard down. I never felt like the cacophonous drums or vapid lyrics were too derivative or overdone. Of course they could, in fact, be those things, but I enjoyed this enough not to care.
Jake Sprecher, known for a long time running as a side player to JONATHAN RICHMAN, debuted this solo venture back in the quarantine days. Though the lead single pays tribute to the towering figure that is RICHMAN, this isn’t mere hero worship. Sprecher has his own voice and a strong—I mean, strong!—ear for melody and tonality. These fuzzed-out power pop cuts carry some real bite, especially in the snarling and brief “Coffee Cup” and an obscure but slamming cover of “Medusa’s Spell” penned by fellow Chico, CA resident Marty Parker (of ELECTRIC PIE BAND). I’m excited to hear more from Sprecher given this labor of love and fondness, and you should be, too.
A California project dreamed up during the 2020 lockdown, the WIND-UPS’ debut album presents an interesting brew of styles wrapped in fashionably weathered production and distorted ghostly vocals. The first few tracks have a post-punk/no wave feel, and then it suddenly gives way to some syrupy lo-fi power pop and RAMONES-y rock. At some point it leans back into more artsy territory, before finally ending off the record sounding like the BEACH BOYS on Quaaludes. The songs are brief, yet the album provides a lot to digest, and if you like the MARKED MEN, etc., this is for you.
