Veteran songwriter
James Alex built his band
Beach Slang from teenage nostalgia and wonderstruck earnestness, wrapping heart-on-sleeve sentiments in hooks borrowed directly from
the Replacements.
Alex would be the first to admit an all-out obsession with
the 'Mats, and he channeled their rugged, blue collar pop into his own idealistic and catchy albums. Loud guitars, racing heartbeats, and youthful excitement encapsulated the best
Beach Slang moments, and third album
Deadbeat Bang of Heartbreak City pushes those elements even further. If the nods to
the Replacements weren't enough before, the ante is upped considerably with the addition of their original bassist
Tommy Stinson as a new member.
Stinson's authentic pedigree adds to tunes already deeply indebted to his old band, like the rowdy shuffle of "Let It Ride" or anthemic album standout "Tommy in the 80s." With a barrage of synth melodies and wistful lyrics about lively city streets on a Saturday night, "Tommy in the 80s" offers the best combination of
Beach Slang's emotional signifiers and high-energy power pop production. The acoustic guitars and strings of "Nobody Say Nothing" recall the same subdued territory
Alex explored as
Quiet Slang, a project that found him reworking songs with stripped-down arrangements. When not working in wide-eyed pop,
Alex's songwriting goes in the direction of sleazy hard rockers. Slithery tunes like "Stiff" or "Born to Raise Hell" are surrounded by airy two-chord blasts like "Kicking Over Bottles." ~ Fred Thomas