(Rave Up Records)
(REVIEW BY DAVE GETZOFF)
The Sidewalks were an American powerpop band who were together from 1979-1983. They were from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, a city that was geared more toward punk bands at the time, although the Shivvers, a well loved powerpop band, were also from the same time and place.
Some powerpop bands tend to have a pop punk influence of distorted guitars in their sound such as the Fast Cars, Carpettes, and the Starjets. The Sidewalks were pure powerpop with a cleaner guitar sound. Although the bigger punk bands of the time such as the Ramones and the Clash inspired them to start a band, their sound was influenced more so by 1960s British Invasion bands and American garage pop bands. At the same time, I also hear a mod influence from the original movement (Small Faces, early Who, and the Kinks etc.) as well as the late 1970s mod revival (Jam, Chords, Circles etc.). I don't think this band would sound out of place on a mod revival or a powerpop compilation album. Rhythm Kids is a collection of the band's recordings from 1980-1982. It contains 14 tracks of melodic tunes with a definite mid sixties feel to their sound. I can hear this influence in the vocals as well as the music. I like the A-side of the record a little better than the B-side because I think those songs are catchier overall, and they also seem to stand out more as memorable tunes. Overall, though, it's great to see a retrospective collection of this band. I think that most obscure powerpop enthusiasts will be pleased with this record. I dig it!
Dave Getzoff
April 7, 2007
(originally posted on Now Wave Webzine on April 7, 2007)
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