To many people, Trans Am is that band that turned down a half-million dollars because they didn’t want one of their songs used in a Hummer commercial. It was ironic that the car maker would choose a track from their last album Liberation, a reaction to the increasing presence of militarism and fear in their hometown of Washington D.C., as the theme song for a commercialized military vehicle. Despite the purported politics, however, Trans Am’s music sounds tailor-made for a 30-second blipvert, and would definitely have moved some urban assault vehicles to our nation’s stock-brokers and soccer moms. For Sex Change, the band jettisoned their old equipment, approaching the new album with a clean slate, and the end result is a super-slick collection of tracks that plunder from the quartz precision of kraut-rock as well as the synth-funk glory of The GAP Band. Trans Am succeeds in crafting some infectious, soaring anthems like “4,738 Regrets” and “North East Rising Sun,” both of which could easily substitute for the soundtrack to the climax of a 1980s coming-of-age movie. That’s not to say these tracks sound dated, however, they’re extensively polished and primped, never feeling hokey or tongue-in-cheek. “Shining Path” is a grating, hard-rock volley that overwhelms with extra-thick riffing and a creeping, dark synth underbelly. “Obscene Strategies” isn’t the Eno-tribute that the name might imply, but instead a tourist-eye view of synth-funk, perhaps the most egregious lift on Sex Change, but still a passable approximation of the style. Trans Am is taunting advertisers with some really hooky, instrumental music; maybe this time they can hook up with a less socially-irresponsible product to endorse. [MPB]
Trans Am: www.transband.com
Thrill Jockey: www.thrilljockey.com
