Camaro
Self-Released, 2020
8/10
An outfit spearheaded by Canada native Tristan Clark, this sophomore album from The Tristones brings a grab bag of sounds across the rock’n’roll spectrum from several decades of inspiration.
“Love Avenue” starts the listen with a timeless approach of warm acoustic guitars and melodic vocals highlighting the pop-rock template that’s a love letter to Clarks’s current home, New York City, and “First World Problems” follows with spirited blues where rhythm is key and is delivered precisely and playfully.
Near the middle, “Permutation” brings a darker approach of guitar fueled rock that isn’t short on ‘80s influences, while “Trump” recruits topical wordplay to a soaring, breezy moment of busy instrumentation that’s not short on synth fills. “Everybody’s Got Their Two Cents” then benefits greatly from organs as a soulful aspect enters the mature formula.
Near the end, “Sick Man” offers plenty of pop appeal in a nostalgic sort of way, and “Tamarindo” exits with some honky tonk fun imbedded in the dreamy atmosphere that lingers long after the song ends.
A listen that’s heavy on riffs and touches and jazz, blues, and funk, too, Clark and company know their way around a tune you won’t forget anytime soon, as Camaro presents one melodic and memorable tune after another.