The guitar-driven power pop on Town Criers’ recent self-released EP, Town Criers II, feels like it could live comfortably in any era of garage music from the 60s through the 80s; the singing of guitarist Andre Baptista often sounds like post-Big Star Chris Bell tinged with a bit of fresh-faced Jeff Murphy (from 70s Illinois outfit Shoes). The Chicago band formed a few years ago, and though their first record focused on combining the psych freak-out of the 13th Floor Elevators with the pop fun of the Kinks, they’ve refined and tightened their style over time—a change most apparent when they play live.…
The guitar-driven power pop on Town Criers’ recent self-released EP, Town Criers II, feels like it could live comfortably in any era of garage music from the 60s through the 80s; the singing of guitarist Andre Baptista often sounds like post-Big Star Chris Bell tinged with a bit of fresh-faced Jeff Murphy (from 70s Illinois outfit Shoes). The Chicago band formed a few years ago, and though their first record focused on combining the psych freak-out of the 13th Floor Elevators with the pop fun of the Kinks, they’ve refined and tightened their style over time—a change most apparent when they play live.…