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It’s a shame that people tend to associate Hunx and His Punx with some sort of gay punk movement, though he doesn’t do much to do distinguish himself from that image. However, Too Young To Be in Love is probably one of the most enjoyable releases that should be on everyone’s radar, yet somehow it still seems to be sort of a small blip. Shame on us, as I haven’t had this much fun listening to a record in some time, not to mention the fact that it was produced by one of the Voidoids!
When you jump into “Lovers Lane,” you better be ready to grab a hold of the nearest person to you, swing them in your arms, and spin spin spin. Hunx has that spoken word delivery you’ve heard from the 50s soundtracks of your parents, then you add in the gentle growl of Shannon Shaw of Shannon and the Clams; you’ll want to play this track at your next barbecue. And it just walks right into “Hes Coming Back,” which has a similar appeal, but here you’re going to have a bit more of a stomp going on, as the groovy drumming definitely has the toes a tapping.
Perhaps there is an innocent nostalgia in everything Hunx and His Punx does, but that’s precisely why we’re all going to have so much fun listening to this record this year. Listening to the title track, “Too Young To Be in Love,” you have the absolutely perfect song to close out the night, if your night happens to be some giant hipster-laden prom-type affair. These are songs where you can roll your window down and tap your fingers to the rhythm on your steering wheel, or perhaps you’d rather just have nice gentle dance around the living room with your significant other while dinner cooks on the stove. Everything you’ll find on Too Young To Be in Love is full of vibrant tracks that warm your heart, and it would probably do the same for your parents, not to mention their parents.
If you’re looking for faster paced songs, you’re likely to find what your looking for on the latter half of the album, in so far as Hunx can only speed it up so much. Tracks like “Bad Boy” and “Tonite Tonite” definitely have a more forceful approach to the sheer joy of this record, though there’s an ability to slow it down amidst a heavier footed drummer. As these songs jangle and Shannon adds oohs and ahhs in the background, you’re caught up all over again. It’s hard, however, to even differentiate these songs from those on the earlier half of the LP, as the whole thing sounds so cohesive, so well put together.
It’s hard to really say who will fall in love with this record, though Hunx and His Punx clearly have made one of the most enjoyable releases of the year. Perhaps Too Young To Be In Love will get overshadowed as too nostalgic for its own good, or too this or too that. But, one thing is for sure, you’re not likely to find so many catchy songs lined in a row that are going to make you fell young and innocent all over again, or keep you feeling young if that’s the case. I don’t know, but if this is the gay punk movement, I think it’s time I join.
[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/HX_LoversLane.mp3]
Download: Hunx and His Punx – Lovers Lane [MP3]
The album is out now on Hardly Art. Hunx comes to Austin on 4/12 at Emos.
I’m so excited for both Hardly Art and Shannon & the Clams! The two have joined up to release the next record from Shannon and her posse, titled Dreams in the Rat House; it comes out on the label on May 21st. I’ve long enjoyed Shannon’s work, and not just with the Clams, but with the other projects she’s taken a liking to throughout the years, such as Hunx. This tune illustrates her penchant for tossing her raspy voice into the mix on an otherwise soul-influenced track; she’s definitely gritty, but also has an incredible range. I think this is my favorite union of the year so far!
