Backhand Deals

Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard come armed with swaggering individuality on Backhand Deals

A masterclass in reinventing ‘70s rock for a ‘20s audience.

In the early '90s, there was a cadre of bands existing just outside of grunge playing a revved-up version of power pop that verged on glam rock, bursting with shiny hooks, ripping guitars, Elton-y piano pounding, and cartoony vocals. Redd Kross, with their pop culture-loving snark; Supergrass, who had boundless energy in their early days; and Sloan, a group who definitely poured too much sugar on the morning cereal -- these were a few of the chief practitioners. Now with Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard, the sound lives on in a new generation. Leading up to 2020's Backhand Deals, the group released an impressive run of glammy, goofy tunes that positioned them as heirs to the power glam bands who came before. The album polishes up their sound a little bit, shaving off some of the looseness of youth in favor of a more considered, grown-up, and sometimes even poignant approach. To that end, a handful of songs, like the swaying "Faking a Living" or the heartstring-tugging power ballad "Yourself," show off a side to the band one might not have expected after hearing "Double Denim Hop."

You get a classic rock with a distinctly 21st century twist: exciting and ever so promising Welsh rock four-piece Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard.