The Makes Nice

Candy Wrapper and 12 Other Songs

(Frenetic)

Record Review by Michael Lodge

If a three piece get things right, lock in together and get a groove, great things can happen.  The trio format has had a bit of a boost recently with those Aussie Ozzy/Led Zep clones Wolfmother.  You can think of more of your own examples.  It looks like San Francisco freak beat kids The Makes Nice want to add their tuppence worth to this mini-resurgence.  Candy Wrapper is their first album: a little bundle of energy that shows great promise.  If it’s derivative, the blend works.

The band formed early in 2004 when guitarist Josh Smith and tub thumper Jack Matthew started kicking out some jams after seeing The Mothballs perform in Oakland and poaching bass player Aaron Burnham.

“California Sun”’s opening riff sounds like the one we all know from the Friends theme tune.  It kicks into a sixties power pop thang with plenty of yeah yeah yeahs and a revved up neck pickup lead.  “As Long As I Can” reminds me of “Baby Please Don’t Go” and “Nothing Left to Say”’s verse riff conjures up the rigid groove of The Hives.  In “November Girls,” the boys opt for hard retro riffing that we’ve heard recently from Jet.  Despite its name, “Cop Killer” provides a harmless little ditty with its palm-muted riff tiptoeing through the tune.

This is a good album that nods to its influences with pride.  But some of the songs feel a little under-developed.  Sometimes there are few choruses that get stuck in your head.  Ditto for the riffs. 

The Makes Nice are recording their second album.  If they retain the great energy they capture on Candy Wrapper and come back with more memorable hooks and choruses, they may warrant some serious attention.  In the meantime, they’d be a great band to see live.

—  Michael Lodge