aaamusic | On 05, Jun 2012

The music of Hayley Bowery and the Manimals is best described as power-pop with a hint of punk rock edge. Their new single “29” which is taken from their upcoming debut album “Born Strange” which is due to be released in June 2012 is essentially a pop song- but rather than go down the commercial pop route, Hayley Bowery and the Manimals have infused this song with crashing drums and electric guitars to give it an edgier sound.
This song has a definite teen pop-rock appeal, which I am guessing is not the target audience this band is aiming for as their live shows are said to feature: “whiskey swilling, profanity-laden crowd baiting, and a serious throwback to the energy and thrill of 70s-era CBGBs.” However, this song is about trying to recapture the carefree magic of youth- and not letting that carefree attitude slip away- a message that could easily be an anthem for angsty teenagers. From a musical point of view, I would like to hear a more serious sound from this band. While the melody and the production on “29” are both solid- I feel that Bowery’s vocals which have a lovely tone and depth to them would be better suited to a more mature sound.

★★★★★

Orna Lyons