Addiction

As good an Aldo Nova meets Bon Jovi meets '80s-era Kiss style band as you're ever going to hear. These guys got the whole arena rock anthem thing down to a science. They've even managed to make a Depeche Mode song ("It's No Good") resemble a Night Ranger song ("Don't Tell Me You Love Me").

This is no Rye Coalition, where beneath all the posturing everyone's in on the joke. Arthurkill's music and the lyrics are obviously and unashamedly -- almost stoically -- dated, without a scintilla of irony. These Staten Island refugees are proud to play '80s hair rock and don't care if you think it's corny and derivative. That's the whole point, isn't it?

That said, with its heavy metal hooks and uncompromising rhythm section, it beats the shit out of all the goon rock / aggra rap garbage that passes for rock music on the radio these days.

back to   Posted Sept. 6, 2003. Copyright © 2003 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.