If it was released in 1979 instead of 2018, it goes without saying that Autogramm‘s debut record – “What R U Waiting 4?” would’ve have been one of my favorite records of the late 70s early 80s. Nevertheless it will just have to be one of my favorite records of 2018.
The Vancouver supergroup play new wave inspired rock with pop sensibilities; a little of the Cars, a little Elvis Costello/Nick Lowe, a little Gary Newman. While the 10 tracks on “What R U Waiting 4?” evoke the power pop/new wave heyday of the late 70s early 80s, Autogramm manage to breathe some new life into things.
This is a super tight band confidently knocking out their songs to form a surprisingly successful hybrid.
Songs like “Jessica Don’t Like Rock n’ Roll”, “Small Town” and “R U Lookin’ For Love“, are solid radio friendly power pop treasures while “Wandering Eyes” is a Gary Newman-like dirge and “Peter Pan” channels The Jam.
The band members are Jiffy Marx of Brooklyn’s Hard Drugs and Vancouver’s Blood Meridian – Vocals, Synth, Guitar; CC Voltage of Berlin’s Dysnea Boys, London’s Loyalties and Vancouver’s Black Halos and Spitfires – Bass, Vocals; and The Silo of Vancouver’s Black Mountain, Lightning Dust and Destroyer – Drums, Vocals, Production.
