The Black Mollys One Man’s Treasure …
by Derric Miller
Staff Writer
Chicago-based Alternative/Pop Punk/RNR band The Black Mollys has just released a compilation featuring tracks from their debut, The First One, from their follow up Ignorance is Bliss, and also added three previously unreleased tracks—or four if you listen closely. This three-piece unit is miles above bands like Simple Plan, Blink 182 or New Found Glory, but part of that is because although they sometimes sound like Butch Walker, they also have their roots in ‘80s groups like Cheap Trick. Put that all together, you get a familiar yet new sound that is all The Black Mollys …
“Every Other Day” is the lead track, and if you want to learn how to write a memorable chorus, just listen to this one once: “You say that I suck, and I think you suck too. You say I piss you off, I don’t know what I do.” The pre-chorus rules too, with, “Went to bed with my beer goggles, woke up with my supermodel.” This kind of music tends to be brief and blunt, and both apply here.
If it’s Valentine’s Day, and you are wondering about the perfect song to play for your wife or girlfriend, try “Complaining.” In fact, just sing to her the chorus of, “I think that you like to hear yourself complaining; why don’t you like anything? Get over it!” While the lyrics are decidedly snarky, lead singer/guitarist Tory Stoffregen sings with a smooth and musical delivery; the guy is a strong vocalist. He also plays an inspired lead here, not something you get on most of the CD.
When you hit “Hollywood,” The Black Mollys slow things down, for the ladies, and offer an acoustic song. The song is a dissection of all that is Hollywood, a track about getting high or getting off, but none of that matters to the main character. He just wants to be with the one he loves, and the pretty lights and pretty people of Hollywood do zero to stop the longing. It’s one of the most mature efforts on One Man’s Treasure, and one of the best to boot.
They get back to rockin’ the house on “Turn You Off,” a blazing, hilarious song about semi-nymphomania. “I’m not the only to figure out a way to turn you on. You’re not the only one to go out of your way to freak me out. Somebody tell me, how do I turn you off?” The band has a penchant for writing big fat hooks, and they are all over this track and basically every song on the release.
The song “Somebody’s Watching You” owns a bit of an Everclear flare, but is a little more bouncy than Everclear gets. Still, thematically and musically, The Black Mollys have a lot in common with Everclear, and that’s a huge compliment.
The band does get Alternative at times, and you’ll understand that on “All My Life.” The verses are unusual sounding, almost droning like a Nirvana composition, yet the chorus is bubbly like Enuff Z’ Nuff. As stated, the band does mix elements of different genres, but they do it all with aplomb.
Once you hit the bonus songs, you will have already heard 15 tracks. The first three bonus songs are akin to what you’ve heard before, but the hidden one is sweet. “Here All Alone” is a Country tune, about drinking, being alone, and drinking alone. For some reason, hearing a band like The Black Mollys play a Country style song almost makes you think Country ain’t all that bad. Almost …
While the band will probably admit they aren’t the most original band in the world, keep in mind AC/DC hasn’t done anything new for decades, and no one is complaining. One Man’s Treasure … is certainly worth looking into, especially if they are off your beaten track.
Online: www.myspace.com/theblackmollys
Label: Trashpit Records
Track listing:
Every Other Day
Complaining
Pretend
Hollywood
Turn You Off
Erica
Window
You Never Come Around
Somebody’s Watching You
I Can’t Care
Girlfriend
Overdrive
Call Me A Drag
All My Life
Don’t Ask Me
Ebony Eyes
Behind Those Eyes
Miss Marvelous
HRH Rating: 7.8/10