The Stars Explode – Too Late to Save the World

I looked forward to attending the album release party for The Stars Explode and their new release entitled Too Late to Save the World. The last time I saw them was about 5 years ago at a small club in Chapel Hill. I had really been looking forward to hearing their latest work. So, naturally, it snowed….much more than we usually see here in North Carolina. As a result, I missed it.

Finally, I had the chance to hear the new one from Doug Edmunds & Co. There are some outstanding tracks, here. The first of these, “Some Girls Pt. 2”, is thematically in line with the Stones standard although the similarity ends there. “Matthew Sweet” is another winner with a guitar treatment that will remind you of its subject. Both songs are clever and catchy.

“Rainy Days” may be my favorite track here. The XTC influenced arrangement and guitar embellishments can bring you back to a track on almost any of the mid to later career records from the Swindon trio. The efficient, well-placed horn embellishments are just perfect.

The lineup has otherwise changed since 2012’s Between the Lines. Now, the band is made up of the aforementioned Doug Edmunds, Dewey McCaffery on lead and rhythm guitar, Lance Westerlund on bass and Jackson McGee on drums. Get your copy of The Stars Explode Too Late to Save the World at Kool Kat Musik (on vinyl) or Bandcamp.