Altsounds - Looker - Looker [EP]

Hailing from the musical hotbed that is New York City, Looker certainly invoke the sound of some of their city’s most famous musical icons, from Blondie to The Ramones. They’re the kind of band that remind you how tragic the closure of CBGB’s really was, as it almost seems wrong to listen to them anywhere else. To listen to Looker in the comfort of your own home, is like eating foreign food in your own country; as much fun as you may be having, you know there’s somewhere else you could be enjoying it a whole lot more.

First track “After My Divorce” opens with a killer guitar riff that sticks in mind as firmly as the catchiest of chorus’. Backed by the lovely “aa-ahs” of the group’s three female sirens, Boshra AlSaadi, Nicole Greco and AJ Lambert, it’s an auspicious opening, and drawing on the best bits of bands such as The Go Go’s, The Divinyls and The Bangles, the song continues to enchant throughout its three and a half minutes of seductive pop melodies and wonky slide guitars.

Second track “Stand Back” is less charming, not least due to it featuring saxophone, which should be left for Kenny G and Lisa Simpson. They get back on track though with the final song “Master’s Gone Away”, which is the same brand of Primitive(s) Go Go punk pop as “After My Divorce”, and equally as easy on the ear.

Looker are the kind of band that New York would produce in its sleep if Frank Sinatra’s claims weren’t correct. They may not be its greatest, hell they may even be downright average by its own standards, but they do go to show that New York’s average is most other city’s best.

Track List:

After My Divorce
Stand Back
Master’s Gone Away