Mark Sultan brings his distinctive blend of ’50s doo-wop, ’60s rock and ’70s punk to this highly listenable 13-song collection. The ex-Sexareenos singer/drummer balances lo-fi punk freakouts with sophisticated vocal harmonies. Highlights include the catchy doo-wop influenced Ten of Hearts and the rapid-fire delivery of Status, with its bizarre minute-long ending complete with scattered applause. Sultan’s powerful vocal chops are on display on I Am The End. One drawback is that the lyrics are cliché in parts. Lines like, “I don’t care what people say / I’m gonna love you anyway,” on the six-minute closer, Nobody But You, could be found just about anywhere else. Listening to the album, though, you can tell he’s having fun, and that’s precisely the point. Fans of any of Sultan’s other bands, like The King Khan and BBQ Show and The Spaceshits, should enjoy this.

Published in Volume 64, Number 23 of The Uniter (March 18, 2010)