Bronco Bullfrog – What People Did Before TV (2004)

Bronco Bullfrog is a three-piece band from the U.K. that harks back to classic power trio sounds of the Who mixed with the lyrical melodicism of late-period Small Faces, the pop songcraft of the Rubinoos or Raspberries, and the vocal harmonies of the Byrds -- all given a boost of modern-day energy. What People Did Before TV is a 16-song collection taken from their three albums (1998's Bronco Bullfrog, 2000's seventhirtyeight, and 2002's The Sidelong Glances of a Pigeon Kicker) and various singles. At its best, the group creates songs that wouldn't sound out of place on a Rubble collection. "7:38 (Bug-Eyed and Breathless)," a glittering psychedelic pop gem with a strutting chorus and loads of sound effects, would fall into that category. "One Day With Melody Love" and "Barnaby Slade" fit this bill as well. Other times, like on the breathless "Del Quant" and "History," they plow headfirst into power pop sounds to create wonderfully melodic gems. Other times, on tracks like "Look at Me" and "Get to Know You," they sound like the best mod revival band ever. Other times they hit the same laid-back country-rock groove that Teenage Fanclub has mastered of late. The lovely "Home to You" is a perfect example and one of their best songs; "Sweet Tooth" is excellent, too. Add up all the times that Bronco Bullfrog is great and you have to admit that the band is really good at what it does, at least as good as any of the modern-day practitioners of power pop and neo-psych country-rock. If they had been doing this back in the '60s, they would be legendary today instead of obscure. Thanks to Rev-ola for rescuing them so soon.