New Record: Icon for Hire - You Can't Kill Us

This is an unusual new record review because the new record is not fully available yet. As of today, there are 3 songs, one of which can be found on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzffIT79Xlo
with a total of 12 to drop by the end of the year. 

Icon for Hire are one of the definitive Spunk Rock bands. Singer Ariel was listed #3 on the top-20 bad-ass Rock'N'Role-models list,
http://joelspunkrock.blogspot.com/2016/02/top-20-bad-ass-rocknrole-models.html
And the aptly named guitar player / instrumentalist Shawn Jump would be near the top of that list also, except that I chose to focus on "front" people to keep it simple. These two embody the Spunk Rock aesthetic. Ariel is a fiery free-spirited type overflowing with spunk that erupts up through her voice. Shawn drops phatt riffs with a thunder from way up above.

Several things have changed since the previous Icon recordings, most notably the departure of their former drummer Adam. I'm not sure if there is a replacement, but it sounds like so far it has just been the two of them on these songs. I expect we'll see a touring drummer added at some point. There is something missing without Adam, the beats here are not quite as clever and it's not quite as easy to dance to these.

Here We Are has a brooding survival feel with some deep booming beats and soaring vocals. Supposed to Be has some of those phatt riffs and some of the poppy-hip-hop vocal stylings Ariel has been throwing down lately. While the older ("classic"?) Icon songs are more straight-ahead rock'n'roll, they have expanded the sound in recent years to mix rap/pop vocals and beats, and, I would say, have done so successfully. I think this gives their sound a more distinct identity and gives them opportunity to explore more interesting song compositions. This song and the next are good examples of that. Both well put together.

There is a sense of strength and independence in these songs lyrically.. the sort of strength that comes from struggle. This, I think, is what music should be, a life experience and not just a catchy tune. That said, the melodies are memorable and the song writing is strong.

So far I think this album is off to a good start and I will be looking forward to the rest of it. These are good songs with lots of feeling and good riffs. I hope future line-ups will be able to keep the funky jump-along edge we're used to.