The Atlantics - Atlantics (2006)

The 13 songs on Atlantics by Boston's the Atlantics were recorded between 1979 and 1982 and show the pop/rock band as a force to be reckoned with, something their ABC/MCA debut couldn't accomplish. Listen to Fred Pineau's intense guitar lines on "Back in the World," one of their best songs that didn't get the traction of their independent single "Lonelyhearts," or their regional hit radio tape, "Pop Shivers," but "Back in the World" certainly deserved to be identified more with what they were about. "Lonelyhearts" found re-release on the Rhino/Atlantic D.I.Y.: Mass. Ave.: The Boston Scene (1975-83), but also was re-recorded by the band's original producer/manager Fred Munao to get some extra attention on Gary Private's Secret Love EP on Atlantic. It was the addition of eventual Joe Perry comrade Paul Caruso to the group that brought a tightness and precise sound which helped titles like "Perfect Stranger" get into that machine shop rhythm à la the Cars, though with a bit more punch. The song also gives proof that the band was much more experimental than their earlier live dates and radio exposure indicated. Gary Glitter's "Rock & Roll, Pts. I & 2" shows up as the only cover by a group that was offered a chance to record "Pop Muzik," the number one August 1979 hit by M. The Atlantics took their chances with "Lonelyhearts." and the rest, as they say, is history. It's too bad because the Glitter cover is one of their best recordings -- all those years working in the Boston area dungeons certainly gave these gents an idea about arrangement and production, and had they utilized additional outside material, or even their earlier classics penned by Jeff Lock, their music might have made a more serious dent in the pop firmament. Unlike another Boston band which had regional hits at the same moment in time, the Lines lost a core of musicians who went on to become the Drive and the Swinging Steaks, while the durable Atlantics were able to survive the departure of original songwriter/guitarist Jeff Lock and future Willie "Loco" Alexander drummer Boby Bear to reposition themselves with drummer Ray Fernandes and the aforementioned Bonjour Aviators guitarist Fred Pineau, resulting in the MCA release. This evolution would have made for a nice double-disc capturing more of the group's unique history. Perhaps that will happen on a future release. For the time being, however, Atlantics gives the world a picture of what these musicians did after their major-label deal, and is as good a listening experience as it is an historical document. Which is meant to be high praise.