While the Philadelphia band The Teeth hit some rough patches on their newest album “You’re My Lover Now,” they clearly enjoyed making the record and their frisky spirit is contagious. The group’s production could use some refinement, but The Teeth’s music has a spunky, Kinks-like fullness that has you bouncing along to their livelier songs.
The opening track, “Molly Make Him Pay,” falls flat with frenzied, disjointed melodies that aren’t original enough to forgive their repetition, and an awkward match between sometimes harsh vocals and unorganized, frantic instrumentals result in unpolished moments throughout the album, like the hectic build-up in “Shoulderblade.”
However, lead guitarist Brian Ashby has great jangly riffs throughout the record, and the vocals are often successfully reminiscent of The White Stripes’ Jack White or The Strokes’ Julian Casablancas.
“Your feelings on life” is rife with delightful, Costello-esque energy, and “Yellow” has a great lead-in that breaks into catchy trumpet-guitar interplay. Mellower tracks like “It’s Over, It’s Over” and “Ball Of The Dead Rat” are fresh, whimsical gems. The lyrics are more playful than poetic, but they fit The Teeth’s cheeky style.
Overall, “You’re My Lover Now” isn’t a wholly developed record, but it has enough charming moments to showcase the band’s musical potential. A solid, satisfyingly summer-y pop rock album. (Park the Van)
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 5, 2007. Read the original PDF.