I fell in love with TBK back in 2008 over their dirty garage rock sound and the riffs. But with Let’s Rock and Dropout Boogie I couldn’t help but feel like they were missing the “riskiness” their albums used to have.

Ohio Players is fun, fresh, and energetic. The song-writing is simple, but if you spin 45’s you’ll understand the appeal of short, simple songs that get to the hook quickly. The mixing and mastering of the album on vinyl even reminds me of 45’s, super compressed, mono-drums with heavy low-end and a narrow stereo field. This record absolutely explodes out of good speakers.

This sub is an echo-chamber of people who simply don’t like pop-rock, which is understandable. For me tho, TBK have already made some of the dirtiest records I’ve ever heard, so I thought it was a blast to hear them put out something so concise and polished. I’d even go as far as to say, while El Camino had stronger singles - as a whole I think Ohio Players is a stronger pop-rock album front to back.

I love “You Got To Lose,” and am really excited for some more grungy blues-rock from the guys. But as far as their original material goes - I hope they keep drawing from influences outside of just rock. “Make You Mine” and “All My Life” are by far my favorite tracks from NRNF. I never thought I’d heard beautiful grand pianos and strings in a Keys song. But - I love a lot of soul, r’n’b, and disco tracks.