Planet Waves - Planet Waves

Planet Waves

Planet Waves
self-released; 2020
​
3.8 out of 5

By Jamie Funk

Planet Waves is a four-piece rock n’ roll outfit composed of William Bendix (percussion), Alex Sanchez-Stern (bass), Lindsay Ford (vocals/guitar) and Tony Ford (vocals/guitars/harmonica) currently residing in Southern California. They recently released their debut self-titled album Planet Waves which contains twelve songs.

The songs are fairly straightforward rock that doesn't seem to take itself too seriously. I felt the general vibe was fun and raw. On top of that I noticed a ’70s flavor to most of the songs.

Take for instance the opener “Hazy Hills” which felt like a summer jam. The melodies are memorable and there is a breezy feel to the music like you should roll down your windows and ride. Out of the twelve songs I felt there were some highlights.”Marty” felt like a single. It’s just a catchy tune that will get stuck in your head and you might find yourself singing it in the shower.

“Losing My Mind” has a ’70s funk quality that was really cool. I especially liked the guitar and bass work on the verse. “Be Your Fool” had an ’80s college rock quality that I enjoyed quite a bit while the folk/rock fusion on “Gobstopper” showcases Tony Ford on lead vocals.

“Autumn Blues” is definitely more blues oriented and sounds great - the harmonica, the vocals and the whole band. They close with the nostalgic and reflective “Good Things” which was a good way to land. There is a bit of a Mazzy Star vibe here.

The album is on the lo-fi side. My only critique was that I wanted a little more clarity and separation on some of the songs.

​Overall, I found this is a great release that is packed with stellar songwiriting and top notch performances. There is plenty I found to appreciate on this release and think you might too. Take a listen.

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