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