Head Automatica: Sex, Drugs and Pop

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Head Automatica: Sex, Drugs and Pop

April 22nd 2006 03:00

Head Automatica

"Contemporary American pop is so tasteless and phony."

Everyone knows that, so why say it? Because the man who said it was trying to make the point that pop isn't dead - that true popular music, the one characterised by catchy tunes and not the latest Australian Idol winner, is well and truly alive, should artists want to tap into it. So who said it exactly? None other than Daryl Palumbo, musical master and frontman for the ever-popular indie pop band, Head Automatica. The five piece band rose from nothing in 2004 with their debut album, "Decadence," and are about to make it big again with the release of their second album on June 6th. It seems that while the Internet is bountiful in its goods, it is not so bountiful as to secure me a copy of the new album. Thus, this review is, for now, restricted to their debut album "Decadence," and a mix of the new songs available on their official site, as well as some demos of their other new songs.

All geniuses have moustaches

Yet, if their second album, "Popaganda," even remotely offers the same magnitude of musical bliss that "Decadence" did, then I am indeed happy. As a fan of such bands as Tigercity which offer little more than monotonal melodies, I had no idea that I would fall for the poppy melodies offered by Daryl Palumbo, because they are indeed as poppy as you can get. Yet Head Automatica offers something that other bands don't - that right mixture of punk vibe and straight 70s pop that I've come to love. From the heavy punk intro that is "Speed of a Yellow Bullet," to the extremely poppy "Beating Heart Baby," and then to the 70s funkiness that is "Disco Hades II," their debut album is definitely something to be reckoned with.

To Palumbo, true pop music is the unbridled melodic craftsmanship and punk energy of Elvis Costello and the Attractions, Squeeze, Nick Lowe and Rockpile, and Graham Parker and the Rumour - British smartypants who set off the power-pop mod revival in the late '70s with their highly literate and impassioned songwriting.
Official Site Bio

It is clear from "Decadence" that Palumbo's and indeed Head Automatica's goal isn't simply to return to the 70s, but to break the mould as much as possible. How often these days do you hear a key change in the middle of a song? As a 21st century musician who occasionally plays old school (and I mean old school) hymn-like songs, it is a musical technique which I despise and yet "Beating Heart Baby" does exactly that and I don't hate it. Why? Because it just... fits. There is simply a style that Palumbo brings to music that is just no seen anywhere else. Hot Hot Heat have attempted a similar feat and, while they have generally succeeded, they are almost too contemporary. While Head Automatica have some contemporary feel to it, they are, in essence, 70s pop.

I have to admit that I'm a generally negative guy who is always looking for that tiny flaw in an otherwise perfect masterpiece. In this case, my only qualm with them is the cameo of what I can only assume is the Transplants lead singer in the near-perfect song, "Dance Party Plus." Prior to writing this article, I had not heard of a new Head Automatica album but, after hearing of it, and hearing one or two sample tracks, I am extremely excited about what Head Automatica might offer with the release of "Popaganda" in early June. So forget Britney Spears, forget Backstreet Boys, forget Casey Donovan (Casey who?) and get your hands on "Decadence" by Head Automatica.

Links:

Official Site

Unofficial Review of "Popaganda"

Myspace Profile - Check out "Laughing at You" and definitely "Beating Heart Baby

Last.Fm Profile

Attention: Genius researching

PS. I seriously forgot Casey Donovan's name - I had to Google "Australian Idol" to remember it. So much for the pentration of Australian pop music huh?

Head Automatica: Sex, Drugs and Pop

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