Way Too Much by Superstar Crush

For fans of Geese, The Strokes, power pop, and rock n roll with that menacing darkness lingering in the background, Way Too Much by Superstar Crush stands out among a crowded pool of indie garage rock talent. At first, this album feels like a straightforward adaptation of the tried and true rock and roll format, complete with flashy riffs, energetic rhythms, and squealing solos. However, the contrast between the band’s instantly magnetic vocal duo throws this formula out of balance, uniting a spiritually tortured, emotionally thermonuclear lead with an unsettlingly ethereal, deeply hypnagogic counterpoint. These two voices tease out the more subtle dissonances in the instrumentals, drawing attention to cleverly crafted melodies and harmonies, especially in the supplemental keys, strings, and horns, which directly flow against rock and roll purity. Underneath every worthwhile rock and roll song lies a deep unease; Superstar Crush just does the work of letting the beast loom over our shoulders, begging for our attention while maintaining the smiley, adolescent face of a rockstar.