Album Review: The Reflectors – First Impression


FULLERTON, CA -Los Angeles powerpop/punk quartet is the base The Reflectors who release their new album First Impression on May 29, 2020. Releasing via independent labels Time For Action Records (Europe) and Burger Records (rest of world), First Impression will be available to stream on all major digital platforms and is available to pre-order now on vinyl, CD and cassette.  or Here for EU

Recorded at Jazzcat Studios in Long Beach, California and produced by Johnny Bell. The Reflectors are: James Carman (guitar / vox), Ryan Miranda (bass), Nick Faciane (guitar / vox), and Johnny Reyes (drums).

This is as catchy a pop punk album as you will ever hear. If LA could be summed up in sound, then this might well be it.  Snappy, well written songs of love, break ups, relationships (good and bad), and living life in a box that is all Champagne and perfect girls, are wrapped up in melodic riffs, huge hooks and stunning harmonies.

During the eleven track album, you’re taken into a world of teen issues from the off. Opener ‘Act A Fool’ being the first in a long line of songs that pretty much cover all the bases that you might expect from a band that is obviously living and breathing this world. Edgy guitar, woven around melody filled songs” kind of sums up what to expect, and pretty much what lies ahead after the first salvo.

‘Teenage Hearts’ bounces along like a softened Duncan Reid and The Big Heads track, ‘Champagne’ gives promise with its wonderful little riff opening, but then just fizzles like bubbles up ya nose, ‘Storm And Thunder’ has a delightful Greenday in Uno, Dos, Tres mode melody. Moving on you’re then hit with ‘Its Alright’ which has you checking if you played a Starter Jackets song by mistake. Finally there is ‘U Should Be My Girl’  – if you like that, go check out The Cyanide Pills.

This all said, what you are getting is a band and an album that covers pretty much every pop punk sub genre and beyond within its entirety, has elements of all the best bands that could be called upon within and plays it with some quality.  If your thing is, dancing, singing along or just plain happy smiley music, this is for you,  just don’t dive in expecting anything deep and meaningful.

check out this track from the album

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