3rd Alley

Shiny Shady People

Self Released

(3rd Alley MySpace)

3rd Alley’s debut album After School Special was one hell of a diverse ride. Just when you thought you had them pegged - the band would take you on a different and exciting path with the very next track. Well the good news is Shiny Shady People is just as psychophrenic as its predecessor, if not more so as it explores indie pop, reggae, ska and even waltz.

This time round with the addition of Todd Forman on sax and keys it enables the band to go in further in each direction like on the ironically upbeat Downtrodden. Front-man Zack Walters clever and slightly paranoid wordplay is present as ever, such on tracks like the reggae tinged Dirty Sponge and the speaker blowing all My Friends are Flaky.

The Josh Fischel (Bargain Music) produced album ebbs and flows through its fifteen tracks and rocks at its most hardest on the near to last tune, Hibernation before easing into the swaying finale of Castaway. It's the perfect two-hit combo knockout punch to end proceedings.

Shiny Shady People is a thoughtful album that needs to be played in its entirety to fully appreciate Zack’s vision. I am sure it will be hard to find a more creative album this year.

Reviewed by Pilipo

You can preorder Shiny Shady People RIGHT HERE