Thursday, March 21, 2019

Subdueds - s/t (1987, Subdued)

My best guess is this West Haven, Connecticut quartet didn't make a huge name for themselves outside of their local enclave, because I hadn't heard so much as a mere mention of them before happening upon this record a couple years ago.  Then again, the Subdueds weren't at all indebted to the gaudier and gimmick-ier temptations of their era, instead adhering to a linear power-pop modus operandi.  Loosely in league with the likes of the Spongetones and Romantics (but really exhibiting a more pedestrian bent than either) these chaps were most effective when they indulged in the vibrant power chord splay of "I Feel Good" and "Too Many Things."  The going gets a little too optimistic on the feel-good concluding cut, "I Love Living," but I guess it beats misery.

01. The First Step
02. Too Many Things
03. One More Time
04. I Feel Good (Hey So)
05. Song for Darryl
06. Ginny Mae
07. I Love Living

**The download link has been removed by request of the artist.**

5 comments:

Chuck said...

Hah! I’m one of the guitarists in this album and wrote two of the songs. You mention neither. Alas. We were formed from the ashes of another unknown New Haven band, Earl’s Watch, that put out a single, “Two-Headed Boy”/“What More” (1986 Subdued Records). We printed 500 of the singles and 1,500 of the EPs. Cheers.

Chuck said...

Hah! I’m one of the guitarists in this album and wrote two of the songs. You mention neither. Alas. We were formed from the ashes of another unknown New Haven band, Earl’s Watch, that put out a single, “Two-Headed Boy”/“What More” (1986 Subdued Records). We printed 500 of the singles and 1,500 of the EPs. Cheers.

Chuck said...

Oh, if that link (that gives me a 403 error) leads to a download of the songs on my album, please remove it and the songs from the server. You don’t want me to tell our former bassist Sal about it. He can be, as we say, intense (in a good way for the band). 😉

spavid said...

Hi Chuck. Just saw your comments today. Will remove the link to the tunes momentarily. My apologies for sharing.

Chuck said...

Thanks. If you ever need vinyl copies, I’ve got a couple boxes left. I’m waiting for them to be worth millions.