It must be a tough row for bands musically influenced by the The Clash and The Replacements not have their music sound like those legendary groups. Songs by the Strummers and Westerbergs are anthemic and lasting – who wouldn’t want to sound like them?
This creates problems for bands who let these influences stick out like power lines in open fields. Chicago’s AM Taxi is one of those bands, and maybe that’s one reason its debut album on Virgin Records is called We Don’t Stand a Chance – it serves as a sly nod to critics (such as myself) who bemoan the lack of originality in today’s music.
But I’m not going to do that here. These guys write some catchy-ass songs, and I don’t care where the genesis came from – I just want to sing along.
Following 13 seconds of reverb on the opening Dead Street, We Don’t Stand A Chance rollicks through the next 45 minutes at breakneck speed, sporting rowdy choruses and sharp lyrics. Lead singer Adam Krier rasps amiably as the power chords and thumping drums coast merrily along. Charissa touts its Clash roots with grinding guitars and gang-backing vocals, belied by touching lyrics (Charissa, I don’t want to hurt you, I don’t want to let you down). The Mistake pumps a Mats’ beat and killer hook against Krier’s halting words (I am the ambulance that never comes / I am the anecdote you spill).
There are musical double takes: Reckless Ways is Weezer, Maydays and Rosaries is The Police, Fed Up is Bruce Springsteen (yes, really), and Jimmy Eat World is EVERYWHERE. Yet the imitations aren’t obvious – the melding of influences creates a genre of its own.
Are there bumps? Sure. Champagne Toast ends the album on an odd, low-tempo note, while Shake, Rattle and Stall is a tired melody you’ve heard a million times before.
No matter. AM Taxi celebrates its heroes but doesn’t ape them. Joe Strummer would be flattered.
