December 9-16, 2004

musicpicks

Townhall

Rock/pop

If the words "George Stanford" and "Schwenksville, PA" were not clearly emblazoned on the disc, we might have taken American Dreams for the work of a different Townhall. It certainly doesn't remind us of the local guys who put out The New Song last year. The opening track, "Night Patrol," kicks off with jangling guitars and a fast one-two beat, as horns by Mark Smidt and Nate Skiles simply nuance the background of a song that otherwise sounds—wha?!?—like The Monkees. Perhaps we judged them too soon as mellow jam boys, since the British invasion aesthetic carries across the breadth of Townhall's new record as concise cuts crackle and pop in a decidedly unfunky manner. Hell, the dreamy guitars and uprising chorus of "Communicate" are straight outta Abbey Road. Even the lesser songs are intriguing; the five-piece's more established reggae style seems positively Anglo on "Peaceful Man." Whether they had lots of Kinks and Who blaring between takes at Ardmore's Milkboy Studios earlier this year, or they just wanted to expand their palette, Dreams shows Townhall evolving.

Fri., Dec. 10, 9 p.m., $10, with J.F. Maher, Tin Angel, 20 N. Second St., 215-928-0770.

—John Vettese