I really don’t know much about Gee Tee, and sometimes when writing a review I like to keep it that way to let the music speak for itself. Speaking broadly, Gee Tee’s sound is classic rock ‘n’ roll, rooted in swagger, sway, energy, and attitude, but with a big dose of keyboard. Guitar is the star of the show, with some hip-shaking groove defining the vibe. It owes a lot to sleaze rock machismo, but cleans it up for the modern era (thankfully). It’s high energy and opinionated, but not at others’ expense.
“Bad Egg” is a good example of the sound overall, featuring choppy guitar riffs and a lot of sass. “Within the Walls” is another highlight, with a little more fuzz to the guitar tone and vocals, then using bright keyboards to cut through. There’s a look-at-me attitude from the vocals, but it’s endearing instead of grating, with some subtle humility within the delivery that makes it accessible. It’s a similar format at play through the whole record, with big keyboard melodies instead of vocal singalong choruses.
Pointing to “Cell Damage,” think pop keyboards with authentic rock guitar. There are homages to the hypermasculinity of ‘60s rock and overproduction of ‘80s synth rock, but the final sound is neither of these styles. Instead it offers the crunch and sass of garage rock with the catchiness of glam and a lo-fi punk attitude. The sequencing helps keep things fresh, slowing it down for “Rock Phone,” which works here as a change of pace but it’s ultimately a deep cut. Then “40K,” the closer, is one of the poppiest tracks, but counters with those crunchy guitars that make sure it always has enough grit to keep it real. The vocals can get a little monotone, and the fuzzy guitar isn’t for everybody, but it’s lively rock with a real pulse and if there’s a takeaway vibe from this record, it’s like giving CPR to the corpse of rock ‘n’ roll.
Gee Tee’s Goodnight Neanderthal has a broad, classic appeal that will fit many moods and occasions. Released on Urge Records in Australia.
