THE INNOCENTS – The Innocents – (Boardwalk) – 1982

Is anyone out there? The loneliness of the long distance record listener ….

This album is powerpop disguised as New Wave and perhaps a little more New Wave than other powerpop bands who lean the same way. And this is surprising as the band look like a late 70s Californian Beach Boys covers band.

The Inncoents were fast tracked to (fleeting) fame when they were the subject of a television documentary about a struggling band going from the clubs to recording a album for a label. (maybe that’s where they got the band name from?…Innocents …get it?). This sudden (partial) success may have stifled their creativity or self perception somewhat. It’s hard to say – they play well enough and there are one or two ideas in there but like many of their contemporary “new wave” or “skinny tie” bands they really don’t have enough ideas for an entire album. Having said that, they could have been perfect singles bands.

Much is made of The Innocents “original” sound with quirky vocals and punchy delivery in the music. I’m not convinced. I think they are a pub rock band (or whatever the US equivalent is) with New Wave stylings. On top of that the vocals are not dissimilar to James Reyne vocals from the Australian band Australian Crawl. I suspect The Innocents weren’t looking at Australia – who was in 1982? – but the vocals (especially) and music (generally) bear more than a resemblance to Australian Crawl who had released two albums, by 1982, in Australia, and were incredibly popular. By the way, James Reyne had lifted his vocals from Stephen Cummings of The Sports, Australian most underrated powerpop band.

I leave questions of “influence” in trans pacific sound to music archaeologists who want to follow that up.

Despite some pandering to the mainstream and some smooth sounds the production is reasonably direct and “in your face”.

Tracks (best in italics)

• Stop Shooting up the Stars – Excellent song with a pulsating drum beat and the those quivering vocals I have referred to.
• Directly From the Heart   – another good song
• Hold My Hand   – the obligatory new wave ballad
• Wild at Fifteen – Lame. The only thing remotely new wave here are the vocals. There are 70s era squealy guitars but thankfully they have been mixed back into the sound.
• Twisted Kiss  – not too bad – a poppy number complete with faux hand claps. Some bad 70s era guitar starting to sneak in.
• Sob Story  – a big new wave heartbreak ballad …the type of thing REM would perfect a few years down the track.
• Without Time – new wave stylings. Tinkly keyboards
• Comes the Night   – slow and dull
• Backseat of My Car – catchy new wave.
• You Gotta Cry – totally out of left field. A 50s era song which is more like Queen doing the 50s, though with less voltage. Still it’s good.

And …

The second side is a little bit of a let down. But those first two tracks on side one are great and there are some other less memorable though catchy songs over the album.

I may keep this but then again I may not. It’s not too bad but …

Chart Action

US

England

Nothing no where.

Sounds

Stop Shooting up the Stars

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ob0K816k6S4

and attached

Innocents – Stop Shooting Up The Stars 

Directly From the Heart  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qnGuf-QeBQ

Hold My Hand  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6r3cw9RTnss

Others

—

Review

http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-innocents-r546298

http://scottrharding.blogspot.com.au/2007/04/lost-innocents.html

Bio

http://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-innocents-p485462

http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/the-innocents

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Newman

http://fuckyeahthomasnewman.tumblr.com/

http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/michael-hurt

http://www.michaelconvertino.blogspot.com.au/

Website

—

Trivia

• I’m not sure what happened to the rest of the band but Thomas Newman "Newman has received a total of ten Academy Award nominations, although as of 2011, he has yet to win the award. He has however won a BAFTA, two Grammys and an Emmy, and has been nominated for a Golden Globe". (wikipedia). He started film composing in 1984 with  Reckless, Revenge of the Nerds and Grandview, U.S.A.  He went on to compose: Desperately Seeking Susan (1985), The Prince of Pennsylvania (1988),The Shawshank Redemption (1994), Thee People vs. Larry Flynt (1996), Mad City (1997),American Beauty (1999),The Green Mile (1999),Erin Brockovich (2000), Road to Perdition (2002), Finding Nemo (2003),Jarhead (2005),The Good German (2006),The Adjustment Bureau (2011), The Iron Lady (2011).
• Michael Hurt, the lead singer, looks to be Michael Convertino, another film composer who is prolific though less successful. His films include: Dance with Me (1998), Things to Do in Denver When You’re Dead (1995), Guarding Tess (1994), Wrestling Ernest Hemingway (1993), The Doctor (1991), Bull Durham (1988), Children of a Lesser God (1986) and Hollywood Vice Squad (1986).
• Michael and Tommy wrote all of the songs on the album. See …rock music does pay off, err occasionally.