The Spindles - Wavelength

It made sense for The Spindles to follow the blueprint from their enjoyable previous album Past And Present while recording the soon-to-be released followup. Wavelength, which drops on March 7, finds the Chicago-based band once again covering a 1960s hit single by The Hollies, as well as a 1990s album track by The Elvis Brothers. This bit of deja vu pays off, since The Spindles obviously feel a kinship with both acts, and deliver the goods. And once again, their originals are catchy and energetic.

Wavelength differs from its predecessor in that lead vocalist/guitarist Jeff Janulis was not the only Spindle who contributed songs. Guitarist-vocalist Robert (Bobby Midnight) Ross adds a bit of music industry satire with “Rock Boy,” and pays homage to cinematic motorcyclists with the bluesy “Ride My Bike.” The guitar-driven and philosophical “Two Sides To Every Story” was penned by a long-time friend of The Spindles, musician Mike Vigil.

Janulis continues to spin tales with his power pop tunes; tapping into crime on both the disturbing “Getaway” and breezy romance of “Henry And Leslie.” The moody “Answers To Nothing” observes a troubled relationship and might remind some people of The Beatles’ “For No One.” And Janulis is particularly impressive delivering a message of world peace on the mid-tempo “The Best Of Everything.”

As for those previously mentioned cover versions, The Spindles have a blast faithfully rendering The Hollies’ “Bus Stop” and The Elvis Brothers’ “Ruthy Ann.” As far as I’m concerned, it’s always a good idea to cover The Hollies and The Elvis Brothers. In a similar vein, guest drummer Brad Elvis propels “Anna James,” a rollicking song he wrote for The Elvis Brothers that was never officially released, and there’s a cover of Rob Elvis’s sexy romp “Rock For It.” 

   

The Wavelength digital album is now available to pre-order on The Spindles Bandcamp page, and the CD is now available to pre-order on the Kool Kat Musik online site. The Spindles will have CDs for sale at their upcoming performances at Indie Music Night at The Arcada in St. Charles, IL on March 18, and at Montrose Saloon in Chicago on March 29.