Thursday, August 24, 2023

The 1981 - Move On


It is often said (usually by one or more parents) that you only have one chance to make a first impression. We don't know Adam Widener and Bobby Martinez of Oakland band 1981 well enough to know whether such sage advice was given to them. But we can say that the first impression delivered by their debut album Move On marks them as a band that deserves our ears. Using '80s guitar pop and power pop as a springboard, the band has added their own spin and crafted songs that delight in turn with muscle, jangle, and fuzz. Given the instrumental prowess and melodic sense of its members, that alone would be sufficient to gain our praise. But 1981 takes an additional step up by using the album to deliver a 12 chapter story of a troubled and dying relationship. Boldly conceived and expertly executed, Move On should find itself on some year-end lists.

For Move On, Adam Widener and Bobby Martinez were assisted by Colin McDonald on bass. Move On is out now via Dandy Boy Records. 




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Bandcamp for Move On

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