At his best Thomas lunch sounds reminiscent of early 90’s alternative acts like the Dandy Warhols and the Blur with his thrashy fuzzy guitars and sweeping choruses. When he does his straight up rock numbers some are genuine body rockers, but on occasion he deviates from this formula and the results are a mixed bag. Like the synth laden “tator tots & robots” (4), they sound good and enhance the beat and the song as a whole, but does he have to repeat “tator tots & robots” over and over again? That refrain just makes a song that would have been pretty sweet into one that opens and closes with annoyance. Instrumentally, Thomas Lunch is pretty solid with his thrashy guitar heavy power pop. Opener, “fire puppy” (1) builds and builds over a growling bass line and a simple beat until visions of an overly rowdy summer concert overtake me due a guitar heavy chorus and unchained solo that leads into handclaps. “You are my drug” (2) is probably the most anthematic song on the album. It employs a similar quiet loud aesthetic, but really draws out the quiet part and amps up the guitar riff-age so that when the song goes ape-shit, you will too. The one two punch of the first two tracks really isn’t matched by the remainder of the album although some tracks come close. “beginnings” (14) is a nice change of pace with its slower tempo and use of piano and organ. Thomas Lunch has a firm grasp on the world of rock & roll, but I am most curious as to where he will take it with a sophomore album.
Buy “Diagrams Without Instructions”
Thomas Lunch Myspace
MP3 – Fire Puppy – Thomas Lunch
