Vocalist
Marc Pinansky considers “
Life Starts Tonight” to be
TOWNSHIP’s lost album. That’s because though the
Boston-based band (now known as
THE FAMILY TOWNSHIP) recorded the album in September 2009, it didn’t see the light of day until being released by
Tee Pee Records in October 2020. “
Life Starts Tonight” features
TOWNSHIP’s original line-up, as guitarist
Matt Smart and drummer
Greg Beadle are no longer with the band; the former leaving shortly after this album was completed in fall 2009 and the later in 2010.
Per
Pinansky, the arrangement, tone, and overall approach of “
Life Starts Tonight” reflect
Beadle’s musical sensibilities: big rock, tracked live, minimal overdubs, no ballads, no harmonies, and no acoustic guitars (if possible). And that is exactly what this album is, 34 minutes of straight ahead, stripped down, blues-based classic rock-and-roll (with occasional psychedelic and progressive elements).
Beadle and
John Sheeran (bass) feature prominently throughout “
Life Starts Tonight,” providing funky core melodies and rhythms. When
Pinansky and
Smart join in with their guitars,
TOWNSHIP’s sound becomes complete, settling into retro grooves predicated on abundant distortion and six string wails (no fancy guitar pyrotechnics here).
Pinansky’s vocals are clear and stylistically resemble those of
STEVEN TYLER’s on pre-1980s
AEROSMITH albums.
The eponymous tune, “
Life Starts Tonight,” leads off the album, establishing the classic rock feel that will be manifestly evident as the album progresses. The rhythm grooves, with
Sheeran’s bass line setting the tone underneath as fuzzy guitars lay down the melody. “
Starlight, Motor Grease, and Beer” is another rocker, distorted guitars leading into a funky, shuffling tempo that receives added emphasis with
Beadle’s drumming. Bluesy undertones can be clearly heard and at times the track has almost a jammish feel.
Beadle’s drumming sets the stage for “
Ancient Creatures,” another blues-inspired number, though with a somewhat psychedelic edge. The track features a rather neat multi-instrumental hook and the music takes center stage as opposed to
Pinansky’s vocals. “
Feel It” starts rather spare but then becomes fuller as the track progresses. Another blues-based number, the mix seems a little off as
Pinansky’s vocals are obscured when the band all joins together.
The music takes on a more serious, bit heavier tone with “
Garden Of Our Love.” Methodical in tenor, the guitars in “
Garden Of Our Love” initially come at you in bursts. Drums follow the guitars, with the result being a bit psychedelic as the whole band gets involved. “
Freight Train” sounds like seminal
AEROSMITH, though the song became increasing repetitive and felt as if it went on just a little too long.
“
Eye of The Sun” was the only track on the album that made me think of metal. It had a pop-metal feel, particularly at the beginning, intermixed with some funked-up blues. “
Through The Fog” is a somber, almost brooding track. The cymbal accents
Beadle provides are a highlight that play well with the bassy tone of the number. Intermittently, however, “
Through the Fog” seems to lose a bit of its coherence, meandering somewhat more than the other songs on the album.
“
Life Starts Tonight” seems to be the product of four guys who simply set up and said “let’s play.” Because of this, the music has a minimal, spontaneous feel; as if I was hearing
TOWNSHIP perform live in s small club (an overall aesthetic I found refreshing and rather enjoyed). “
Life Starts Tonight” is a solid album, a throwback whose best tracks would be right at home on
LITTLE STEVEN’S UNDERGROUND GARAGE.
Musicianship: 7
Songwriting: 7
Memorability: 7
Production: 7