The Strypes Shove 60's Garage Rock in Your Face

The Strypes are bringing 60’s garage rock back into the mainstream in a charismatic and enthralling way,  combining elements of jazz, blues rock, and some minor undertones of the New York post-punk revival scene of the early 2000’s to create an original sound all their own.  The Ireland based four-piece recently released their debut album Snapshot on March 18^th and the albums 12 songs are rock and roll at its grittiest, earliest, most gut punching best.  The bands mature sound is made all the more exceptional by the member’s respective ages.  None are out of their teens yet they sound like they’ve been a band for decades.  Lead singer Ross Farrelly’s howling snarl has the same earnestness as early Mick Jagger and the harmonica, brought to the table by both Farrelly and bass guitarist Pete O'Hanlon adds a bluesy southern feel which feels right at home with lead guitarist Josh McClorey’s classic riffs.  Touching on 50’s swing in tracks like “Mystery Man”, pure southern rock bliss on songs like “Blue Collar Jane”, and the folk rocky sound of “You Can’t Judge a Book by the Cover” The Strypes display a wide and eclectic knowledge of the many forms of roots rock.  The band brings their youthful energy and power to every track which makes for enthusiastic performances and exuberant recordings.  Classic suits, leather jackets, and dark sunglasses give each band member that feeling of quintessential cool (despite somewhat ripping off Julian Casablancas) and make you do a double take as you wonder if it is 2014 or 1966.  I expect The Strypes to do many more great things and with so much time to go before they even finish puberty, I’m excited to see where the band takes things in the near future.