[rating=8.00]
New York City’s music scene can be competitive to say the least. Here it seems good bands are a dime a dozen, which makes it tough even for exceptional acts to get the recognition and exposure they rightfully deserve. That being said, don’t fret if you haven’t heard up and coming indie rockers QTY just yet, as that may soon change. Led by the dueling guitars and vocals of high-school pals Dan Lardner and Alex Niemetz, QTY evoke an amalgamation of classic Big Apple rock groups from the past and present with a sound that falls somewhere between the glam of Roxy Music and the hip, post-punk of more recent bands like Interpol and the Strokes. The group’s self-titled debut LP, produced by Bernard Butler and released last week via Dirty Hit Records, features ten catchy tracks that showcase this “contemporary glam” sound and their ability to write songs that are both bright and flashy while also minimalistic and introspective.
Kicking things off with some meaty, Bowie-inspired riffing, the album opens with “Rodeo”, an undeniably fetching love song about fumbling through life with your best buddy by your side. Along with its buoyant rhythm and catchy, singable hook, much of the song’s charm comes from the baby-faced duos’ shared vocals on the bittersweet lyrics and anthemic chorus. Alex Niemetz gets straight down to business and displays her shredding prowess with surging lead guitar work that builds the track to an epic, Thin Lizzy-style climax.
“Dress/Undress” follows suit with another upbeat tempo, head-bobbing melody and gloriously sleazy lead guitar, while “Michael” has a more chilled-out Strokes feel mixed with Dan Lardner’s Lou Reed-like deadpan vocal delivery. The fourth cut, “Cold Nights”, ventures into the indie pop territory of fellow vowelless band XX with echoed guitar and a danceable electronic backbeat.
A trio of beachy, sun-soaked tunes start the second half of the record with a West Coast vibe similar to that of the new Kurt Vile/ Courtney Barnett collaboration. “Living Things” has a carefree sway, “Notify Me” boasts some of the prettiest harmonies on the album, and “Sad Poetic” features blissful doo wop-inspired backup vocals. Alex Niemetz takes over lead vocal duties for the dream pop of “New Beginnings” a track that brings to mind the melodic, stripped down sound of Mazzy Star beofre “Salvation” closes out the album fittingly with another guitar-centric pop number.
Overall, QTY is a solid first offering from a talented young group. Be on the lookout for more good stuff from these guys in the near future.
