I'm guessing when the band's label sat down and discussed promo ideas for Tickle Me Pink's new album, they didn't envisage what would actually happen on 'Madeline's' release date - July 1. For the band's bass player, Johnny Schou, was found dead. Reasons for this tragedy are so far unknown, but it kind of puts this release into perspective. It's well documented that music can save lives, hopefully it won't turn out that it can take lives too.
The news about the shock death hopefully won't overshadow what is primarily a solid release. Tickle Me Pink are very melodic, but more in a Billy Talent than Boys Like Girls way. Sean Kennedy's vocals are quite high-pitched and that gives the band a different slant. The Blasting Rooms production is as good as ever, so it means when the band hit that bit harder and play that bit faster, as they do on 'We Still Dance' and 'Typical', they sound more punk than pop in terms of the pop-punk spectrum.
Of course there are a couple of radio-friendly unit shifters on here too and the likes of 'We're Not Alone' are surely destined to bother the suits at MTV and earn the band a young, impressionable fanbase. That said, there are enough good songs to earn this a decent rating and warrant a thorough listening for the rest of the summer.
» Official Website
