Friend Rock. This is a curious album from Wisconsin Power trio NEWSKI. Not what it seems on the surface. Housed in a sleeve that looks distinctly DIY Indie.
But as the tracks play it becomes clear that the record is a lot sturdier than that initial impression implies. The obvious comparison point that emerges is with Tom Petty. A divisive figure in hip circles in some respects.
Was Tom Petty cool? Not as immediately cool as Kurt Cobain or .J. Mascis perhaps. But cool nevertheless. It's difficult to imagine Soul Asylum and Buffalo Tom without him. You may not think Soul Asylum and Buffalo Tom were good things but I do. Indeed much of Nineties Grunge and American Alternative College Rock owes Tom a debt. Bob Mould and Black Francis can't lay claim to all that. Nor I imagine would they ever dream of doing so.
Friend Rock is a ten track tribute to craftsmanship over inspired abandon and being willfully inept to get attention. Taking the middle of the highway rather than hugging the ditch in a misguided attempt to remain relevant and 'out there' all your life. It's nice having a tune you can tap your toe to when you turn on the radio. You don't have to live like a refugee. Tom knew. NEWSKI know.
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