Tranzmitors (The) - Busy Singles

Artist: Tranzmitors

Album: Busy Singles

Label: Deranged Records

Vancouver's Tranzmitors have been kicking around the circuit for a few years now, and although I had always heard good things about this 80's punk garage-pop three piece, none of their songs ever really gripped me.  Most songs were either too juvenile to hold my attention or failed to reach the infectiously catchy beat suggested by their influences.  In 2008 the band released a series of vinyl and digital singles.  The challenge for any band releasing singles includes writing continuously memorable songs over a sustained period - filler is not welcome.  Given the Tranzmitor's track record, I wouldn't have thought they could pull it off, but the cumulative release of their 2008 singles as a unified collection, Busy Singles, proves otherwise.

The biggest difference between Busy Singles and the Tranzmitors' previous work is the draw of each song's hook.  While previous works tried sounding catchy, they always fell short - instead sounding unnatural - like a band trying too hard.  But this time around the band harnesses a perfect blend of 80's punk and Brit-pop, with thin layer of "garage" roughness holding the sound together.  Every song begs the listener to get up and dance - or at the very least bob their head to the oh so infectious beat.  In other words, the album truly feels like a singles collection - every song has its own unique lure.

For example "Bigger Houses/Broken Homes" builds up to an explosive chorus thanks to a duet between the band's load and backing vocalists, and "Dancing in the Front Row's" harnesses the power of handclaps and simple chord progression.  When the band strays from their danceable melodies the beat slows down and they incorporate a slight 70's influence to keep things lively, and most importantly, fun.  Slower songs like "Live A Little More" or "Are you Gonna Take Me" differentiate themselves with bouncier melodies and a less persistent guitars.  

However, despite my kind words, some listeners may be turned off by the band's tendency to repeat lines - specifically track titles - in excess.  For example, "Teenage Filmstar" has a lengthy  full minute bridge where lead and backing vocals simply repeat the track's title over and over - and despite being undeniably catchy, the repetition becomes tiresome.

Overall though I'm doubly impressed at how the Trazmitors finally found that catchy musical sweet-spot, as well as how coherently the individual singles work together as a unified 48 minute album.  Despite the long runtime for simple garage-punk, the album never has a lull and easily retained my attention for the entire playtime.  If you're like me and never gave the group due notice, then there's no better starting point than with Busy Singles.