Generationals
Heza
2.5 stars
Pop rock
New Orleans-based indie pop outfit Generationals’ latest album, Heza, serves as a clever take on sugar pop psychedelia with hook-filled records that draw liberally from rock’s ‘50s and ‘60s heydays.
The duo consists of singer-guitar players Ted Joyner and Grant Widmer, who consistently utilize tight, old school pop rock, while maintaining enough modern sensibilities to remain relevant in the MP3 age.
“Spinoza,” starts the album off with an upbeat swirl of anxious melodies set against scrubbed guitars and energetic percussion. With lyrics like, “I tried to get your attention./You said it doesn’t matter,” Generationals construct a cliché yet effective theme of romantic interests gone wrong.
“Put a Light On” is the album’s obvious standout track with an enchanting, zippy melody that catches even the most skeptical listener. In this song, Generationals’ lo-fi recording techniques are matched by the advanced sounds of the glockenspiel, which doubles as the falsetto melody as stressed guitars chase each other around the beat.
But the album comes to a close with “Durga II”, a slightly monotonous track with dull synthesizers and airy, lackluster guitars.
As a whole, Heza lacks energy and enthusiasm. With the exception of a few tracks, the record feels repetitive and lifeless. With Generationals’ technical playfulness and demonstrated ability to produce attractive pop songs, Heza is a disappointment.
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