The Silverteens – TV On Fire – EP
This is a Minneapolis-based pop-rock band with slivers of new wave flavors in its garage-rock 4-song, guitar-searing, hip-swinging melodic assault. The vocals have a Stranglers edge, though this music isn’t as “dangerous.” I was going to include the word “punk” in my description, but the music is too clean & skillful to be merely punk.
There are only 4 tracks on this melody-heavy romp, which has more sparks than fire, but sometimes that’s safer. Produced by The Silverteens & Paul McFarland, TV On Fire – EP (Drops July 10/Independent/13:13), it has its moments of Rolling Stones drive (“TV On Fire”). Good stuff. I would say there’s plenty of room for improvement, but that would sacrifice the charm of their garage edge showcase both vocally & musically. So, change nothing. They have just enough punk in their pop-rock to keep the scowl in their guitars & not on their faces (for now).
I like these guys. Reminds me a little of the 80s Canadian band The Kings (“The Beat Goes On/Switchin’ To Glide”). But to reach that level, the Silverteens (play on words?) would have to get a bit more inventive. Right now, they’re…standouts. The vocals are good throughout. Their presentation distills groups like The Saints, Silverhead (“16 and Savaged”), the Easybeats (“Friday On My Mind” — which morphed into Flash and the Pan), the Pirates (without Johnny Kidd).
All creatively driven pre-punk appeasing artists & should’ve been institutionalized, but boy, were they good. The Silverteens do little to suggest they’re borderline mentally challenged, but if they added just a pound of some kind of psyche lard to the musical cake mix, they’d draw attention or cover The Easybeats B-side “Made My Bed, Gonna Lie In It.”
Oh, they also sound entertaining (not sure if that’s a plus with these guys), but not like The Monkees — since they had my ass-dancing in its seat with that fine title track fully fueled. They like to cover obscure garage rock. My nomination: Strawberry Alarm Clock’s “Me and the Township” it’ll allow everyone to sing – then let her rip. Especially the percussive conclusion. That’ll give Jerry Johnson (drums/bgv) a workout & audience applause.
Highlights – “Don’t Burn Your Bridges,” “Brought You Down,” & “TV On Fire.”
Musicians – Terry Isachsen (guitar), Steve Olson (bass/bgv), & Mark Engebretson (vocals).
Color image courtesy of Michael Hardwick. CD @ https://thesilverteens.com/