Tinted Windows 2009 – review – Hanson – Schlesinger

May 30, 2009
Tags:

tinted-windows

I think I’ve found THE pop-rock album of the summer – Tinted Windows. Yup, it’s the much hyped “supergroup” that features Adam Schlesinger (Fountains of Wayne), James Iha (Smashing Pumpkins), Bun E. Carlos (Cheap Trick) and Mr. Mmm-Bop himself, Taylor Hanson. I wasn’t really expecting much when I popped in the CD but surprisingly it’s a fun, energetic and tuneful record that is perfect for rockin’ out in the car with the top-down during the summer months. Don’t expect any deep lyrics here. Just crank up the volume, turn-off your mind and enjoy the crunchy guitar riffs and rock-solid drumming. Schlesinger and company’s ultra-melodic tunes effortlessly recall Cheap Trick, the Knack and the Raspberries without being on the wrong side of parody. I know it sounds a bit weird having a *Hanson* lead a band of veteran rockers but thankfully Taylor’s voice isn’t as *squeaky* as it used to be and in fact, he does a pretty darn good job singing pop-rock gems like “Dead Serious” and “Messing with My Head”. Other highlights include the mid-tempo ballad “Back with You” (awesome Cheap Trick like chorus) and “Nothing to Me”.

It’s too bad Ben E. Carlos is busy with Cheap Trick because it’d be great to see the band in action. They’ve done a handful of dates recently to launch the album but only have three dates scheduled for the month of June. Hopefully we’ll see more of these guys once Cheap Trick is off the road.

retroGrade: B

Artist: Tinted Windows
Album: Tinted Windows
Released: April 2009
Label: S-Curve Records

TrackList:
1 Kind of a Girl (Schlesinger) 3:13
2 Messing with My Head (Schlesinger) 2:55
3 Dead Serious (Schlesinger) 4:13
4 Can’t Get a Read on You (Schlesinger) 2:53
5 Back with You (Iha) 3:43
6 Without Love (Schlesinger) 3:00
7 Cha Cha (Iha) 2:21
8 We Got Something (Schlesinger) 2:34
9 Nothing to Me (Hanson) 3:23
10 Doncha Wanna (Schlesinger) 4:02
11 Take Me Back (Hanson, Schlesinger) 3:29

Tinted Windows – “Messing with My Head” live at SXSW

Catch the band live -
Jun 17 2009 Highline Ballroom New York
Jun 18 2009 Theater of the Living Arts Philadelphia
Jun 20 2009 Taste of Randolph Festival Chicago


Tinted Windows – “Dead Serious” live at SXSW

Related posts:

  1. Paramore – brand new eyes – 2009 – review
  2. Wilco (The Album Review) – 2009
  3. Shawn Colvin – Live – 2009 – CD review
  4. Chickenfoot – album review – Hagar – Satriani – 2009
  5. Journey – 2009 summer tour dates – Arnel Pineda

Filed under:
music, reviews by retroDan

5 Responses to “Tinted Windows 2009 – review – Hanson – Schlesinger”

  1. MmmJulia
    May 31st, 2009 at 11:37 am

    Actually, it’s not just Bun E who is preventing the band from doing some major touring. Schlesinger is still working on stuff with Fountains of Wayne, and Hanson is in the middle of producing their 5th studio album. (Betcha didn’t know Hanson was still making music, didya?) But Tinted Windows is planning on doing some more dates this summer, so you might get a chance to see them after all.

    But this is a great review. And if you’re interested in hearing some other, more recent, vocals by Taylor that DON’T sound like MMMBop, I urge you to check out Hanson’s 2007 release “The Walk” on iTunes. You might be amazed at how un-1997 it sounds.

  2. retroDan
    June 1st, 2009 at 9:59 am

    Thanks for the update MmmJulia! I appreciate the info.

    Yeah, I guess that’s pretty typical for a “supergroup”. It’s tough finding time for a tour with everyone’s schedule packed with activity.

  3. C. Jones
    June 8th, 2009 at 1:48 pm

    I heard about this band. Where can I find the album? Thanks for posting this!!!

  4. Zipkip
    June 16th, 2009 at 10:12 am

    The album (Tinted Windows) is available in stores in The USA. If you want the bonus track “New Cassette” buy the album on i-Tunes and if you want the Japanese bonus track “The Dirt”, you will have to buy the Japanese album at: http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=TOCP-66885

    For more information about the band check this fan site: http://www.tintedwindowsfan.com or join the forums for even more information: http://www.tintedwindowsfan.com/forum

  5. Erin
    June 21st, 2009 at 1:53 pm

    Yes, listen to mmmjulia and check out “The Walk” by Hanson. Also “Underneath” was also another killer album by the band. I saw Tinted Window’s live at the Double Door in Chicago and they were amazing. They played at Taste Of Randolph last night but I had to miss that one. What a great group of guys and they all look like they are having so much fun, especially Bun E.

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