Waltham "Waltham"

Twenty years ago people listened to rock music because it was fun. It made them want to pump their fists in the air. It made them remember the good times and it made them smile. Long before the days of emotionally scarred rock and roll, as perpetrated by Staind, Godsmack, Papa Roach, and many more, rock bands just wanted to make you feel good. An album was forty minutes of escape. A concert was a night of positive energy. Emotionally scarred rock has its place, I love the bands I mentioned and many more like them. However, it’s hard not to wish that there were more bands making great rock music that made you smile and want to have a pool party. And then came Waltham. Before this morning I had never heard of these guys. And now I can’t imagine my music catalogue without them in it.

Before writing a review, I usually read some existing reviews of an album. Some journalists frown on this, saying it inadvertently influences your own review. Personally, I just like to get a feel for the way the record is being received. One thing that was in pretty much every review was a really drastic attempt to pin down who Waltham actually sound like. So I guess I’ll take a stab at it as well. The feel good rock of Weezer mixed with the spirit of Rick Springfield playing great rock music in the vein of David Lee Roth era Van Halen. That may not do much to clear things up, but the fact is a rock album hasn’t made me feel this good in years.

Waltham do everything right here. It’s one of those discs that could sit in your car cd player for months. Lyrically, things never get much deeper than general musings on love and relationships, but it’s a perfect fit here. Waltham is a band that’s come along and filled a giant hole in music that I didn’t even realize was there. They play rock music because it’s fun. They want to make you pump your fist in the air, remember the good times, and smile. They play rock music to make you feel good.

I could continue on with this review, but there’s really no reason to. You should go buy this album, come home, throw it on your stereo, and then have a pool party. This is positive rock and roll that a seven or seventy year old could enjoy. The lyrical content may not be on the level of U2 or Bruce Springsteen, but it really doesn’t need to be. Waltham sings about chicks and feeling good. And really, I wouldn’t have it any other way. This is my second favorite album of the year (right behind Octavarium by Dream Theater). If you enjoy straightforward rock and roll that makes you want to roll the windows down and drive to the beach, or if you’re a fan of good music, you won’t be disappointed by Waltham.

FIVE OUT OF FIVE STARS

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