Novak
Perpetual motion
Novoton
I was really shocked at how mellow this album is considering that "It all works out in the end" is such an energetic and uptempo single. It's cool I guess, it's just not at all what I was expecting. Novak plays the kind of classic power-pop that takes obvious cues from the likes of Cheap Trick and Badfinger all the way down to the retro-sounding recording. The tracks with the tight, in-your-face drum tone totally nail the vibe I think they are going for. However, the best thing about this record is definitely the lead guitar playing. The songs are so chock-full of great riffs, but c'mon guys- no solos? I bet Novak is more than capable of amazing guitar heroics and even have that extra something to pull it off tastefully. The songwriting lacks a certain boldness and it's holding them back. The first half of the record is a solid listen, but they quickly run out of steam before the end. That makes for a great EP, but sadly, only a mediocre album.
- Avi Roig