Turbo Fruits- No Control (ALBUM REVIEW)

[rating=9.00]

Nashville band Turbo Fruits have experienced a bit of an evolution. Even though they’re less than 10 years old, I can’t recall a time before hearing them. Their sound can feel like being with an old friend, and there’s something so deeply satisfying about their chill brand of grungy guitar rock. It’s like zen rock with just the right amount of thrash and flow. But their new record No Control, full of smooth, vintage garage rock, takes their sound to a new level. It’s elevated and original, and feels like I’m meeting them all over again for the first time.

The pop hooks on No Control are unmatched by their past records, and much like Deer Tick’s pop evolution with 2013’s Negativity, it sounds great on them. “The Way I Want You” has the spirit of an old doo-wop song, but it’s gritty and raspy and plays like garage rock. Its chorus is beyond addicting, and the opening guitar licks don’t prepare you for the way the song eventually explodes like a deliciously sugary bite.

“Favorite Girl” is similarly catchy, with an old school pop sound that builds and falls so beautifully. The guitar melodies on this track are some of the album’s best, and make the song move effortlessly. This one’s a head-banger for sure, but also romantic as hell like that bad boy you always wished would fall head over heels for you. The colorful energy of Control is like uninhibited, hormonal first love. Without a doubt, you will have a deep, deep crush on this recor

Turbo Fruits have polished their songwriting with this release, and lead singer Jonas Stein has perfected his vocal harmonies with just enough fuzz. Much of No Control has a classic rock sound, but it’s so youthful and fun, these guys will easily draw a moshing crowd of youngsters when they tour.

You can also hear a bit of that Patrick Carney influence with the crashing drums and hooky melodies. Carney produced a few tracks on No Control, and added a certain radio-ready polish, particularly to “The Way I Want You”. Ultimately, though, this is Turbo Fruits’ first real independent record, which likely explains the common thread of excitement and adrenaline that seems to run through it. Their sound feels uncontained here, making the album title particularly poignant. Though to say there’s “no control” would be untrue. Their fourth record is by far their most powerful one yet. It sounds so fully and distinctly like them. It feels like their

Despite its fresh, youthful sound, No Control sounds grown up. It’s cohesive from start to finish, and feels like a whole, complete album. The liveliness of the electric guitars is so consistent from song to song, and especially so on “Friends” and “Don’t Change”. And even when they get a little dark, like with “Worry About You”, you’ll still be pounding your head back and forth, rocking out with them.

Turbo Fruits are a thrilling band, and No Control is a thrilling record. It makes you feel so good when you listen to it. But it’s no lightweight. There’s solid songwriting here, and if this is what they’ve had in them all this time, that in itself is also a thrill.