Third

For their third album, simply titled Third, the Steve Adamyk Band continue down the same road as before. With a sound that crosses Ramones and Weezer, along with the relevant craze of garage rock revival, the Vancouver band's gimmick-free punk-pop sound is what one would typically expect, but it works so well for the group that it falls into the "if it ain’t broke, why fix it?" category. Anyone familiar with their former records on Dirtnap won't find anything remarkably different about the music, which boasts simple, muscular melodies, even with a changed lineup that features the new rhythm section of bassist Seb Godin and drummer Dave Forcier. The lack of a notable change in the music reinforces Steve Adamyk's talent as the main contributor behind the curtain. Like Rivers Cuomo or fellow lo-fi garage prodigies Ty Segall and Jay Reatard, his energetic singing, frantic guitar playing, and classic style of songwriting make him a force on-stage and in the studio. Third is a spirited, blistering romp from the opening feedback of "Not a Witness" to the finishing note of "Won't Let You Go," and they hit the sweet spot just right all the way through their album, sounding tight enough to connect with the audience while still letting the frenzy of their haste give the performances that bit of slop that signifies true rock & roll.