Music Review: Tinted Windows

You may not have heard of Tinted Windows but it's almost a certainty that you've heard of the folks that make up this band that's being described as a "Power-pop supergroup". The members come from all over the music spectrum with some serious chops in their background. The band is made up of Taylor Hanson (Hanson), James Iha (Smashing Pumpkins), Adam Schlesinger(Fountains of Wayne), and Bun E. Carlos (Cheap Trick). I won't go into details as to how they formed, if you're curious feel free to check out Rolling Stones article about the band here.

What I am here to do is tell you how awesome the self-titled debut album is.

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The album really is awesome. I fell pretty much in love with it from the first listen. The songs are insanely catchy, and fun to listen to. I have my favorite tracks, but I like the entire CD. There isn't a bad song in the bunch.

The CD is high energy throughout, even the slower songs aren't quite ballads, in fact, they're probably a notch above mid tempo. The slower songs are probably my favorite of this set. Back With You is the best track for me that I think will play great on radio. This song is mixed perfectly. The vocals blend in with the guitars in a gorgeous almost sonic kind of way. Great stuff.

This is power pop at its best and really any fans of Cheap Trick are going to be all over this. To be honest, I wasn't all that familiar with CT besides the obvious songs and this album made me want to go back and give them a listen. You can definitely hear the influences here.

I am really excited to see how this album does. Each band member has a huge built in fan base and if they can pull all those folks in they might have a huge success on their hands. There is plenty here to like. The lyrics are clever and relatable. The guitars sound incredible as do the drums. Anyone made nervous by the fact that Taylor Hanson is fronting the band can forgot any concerns. His voice is perfect for the sound and he's got the chops to handle a project like this. If this debut album is any indicator, they've got a lot of great stuff ahead of them.

The CD is ready for radio and I am sure that if stations give them the air they deserve that this disc will offer up a few chart-toppers. Can't Get A Read On You, Back With You, Dead Serious, and Without Love are almost guaranteed hits.

I couldn't be happier with this record. Tinted Windows have delivered a flawless album that is definitely one of the best albums of the year so far and a much needed break from the crappy rock and roll we seem to be plagued with (talkin' about you, Nickelback!). It's an infectious, fun, and immensely listenable album from a group of guys that are really in it to make great music. With this album, they have succeeded admirably.

Tinted Windows self titled debut album is in stores on April 21.

Tinted Windows - Tinted Windows
Track Listing:
1) Kind of A Girl
2) Messing With My Head
3) Dead Serious
4) Can't Get A Read On You
5) Back With You
6) Without Love
7) Cha Cha
8) We Got Something
9) Nothing To Me
10) Doncha Wanna
11) Take Me Back

Check out a couple clever videos (It's almost like 1987 again) for the tracks Kind of a Girl and Messing With My Head below:

Tinted Windows "Kind of a Girl"


Messing With My Head