Bastards of Melody

New Jersey outfit Bastards of Melody channels its bright, ringing power-pop sound into stories of romantic disappointment and carefree evenings out. The lineup includes Paul Crane handling lead vocals and guitar, Bill Zafiros on guitar, Patrick O'Keefe on bass, and Jeff Prosetti behind the drums. Crane first arrived in Jersey City, NJ, during 1993, where he secured daytime employment at EMI Records across the river in Manhattan; at that stage a music career was far from his primary focus. He was navigating a divorce while adapting to the contrast between his earlier Miami surroundings and the pace of New York City. Discouraged by limited prospects, he answered a Village Voice classified seeking a guitarist for the Jersey garage-punk outfit Postpone the Inevitable.

After sharpening his playing with Postpone the Inevitable, Crane and several of his bandmates formed Bastards of Melody toward the end of the 1990s. The resulting sound mixes the buoyant playfulness associated with Fountains of Wayne and the wry, self-mocking wit of Cheap Trick, while the guitar solos deliver boisterous, high-energy drive reminiscent of AC/DC and Lynyrd Skynyrd. Following the early-1999 release of their six-song EP Keep It Down! on Ransom Records, the group turned its attention to crafting material for a self-titled full-length debut issued in 2000. The track “Joanie Don't Be Wreckless With My Heart” recounts the experience of a spurned partner. “Anything But Fine” explores the aftermath of a breakup. “Vibe” celebrates nights of socializing and enjoyment. “Media Queen” offers a pointed, ironic portrait of an aspiring celebrity visiting a New York radio station.