The Orwells
Autumn Tone
2012-08-07
The Orwells are a group of teenagers from the west suburbs of Chicago. They have shaggy hair and wear tattered jeans and sneakers. Their songs have titles like “Mallrats (La La La)” and “All the Cool Kids” and “Suspended”. But it would be a mistake to dismiss them as just another high school band.
Remember When, the group’s debut album, is a surprisingly assured slice of contemporary garage rock. The guitars jangle and scrape. The rhythm section swaggers and grooves. But the secret weapon here is singer Mario Cuomo’s leering voice, which alternates between snotty and suggestive.
No, there’s nothing groundbreaking on this album, but the songs show that the Orwells are on to something. It could be fun watching this band grow up.