Album Review: Baby Shakes - "Shake The System"

 

Ah the joys of the January review pile As has often been observed in the past, this is very much the graveyard shift of the year where yer average reviewer has to look at stuff they may have missed in the last few months. So at least you know what to expect on here until the release schedule starts to pick up again in February/March.

Anyway, you may remember New York's Baby Shakes for their rather excellent Cause A Scene album in 2019 which was one of the first reviews we ever did on Nite Songs. Shake The System is more of a stop-gap album of demos and previously unreleased tracks with all proceeds going to the NAACP charity which supports racial justice and equal rights. So all for a very worthy cause then.

The material herein is the usual impressively tight and tuneful power-pop that we've come to know and love this band for with a few tracks such as Running Through The Night and Modern Girl Renegade which have surfaced on previous releases rubbing shoulders with rough 'n' ready demo versions of Love's A Crime and If Looks Could Kill. Certainly the new tracks are no cast-offs either with the zippy All The Pretty Things, the Dollsy Boys Talk and the Speedways-esque melodies of On A Friday being particular highlights.

Although it's more of a curio collection, there's still plenty here to keep fans of the group and sugar sweet power pop in general satisfied. And let's face it, it's all for a good cause so you know what to do.

Bandcamp link

NITE SONGS RATING: 🌔🌔🌔🌔🌔🌔🌔🌑🌑🌑 (7/10)

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