ARTIST: The Shazam 
TITLE: The Shazam
YEAR RELEASED: 1997
CHART ACTION: None
SINGLES: None
OTHER SONGS YOU MAY KNOW: None
LINEUP: Scott Ballew, Hans Rotenberry, Mick Wilson
WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT: Nashville power-pop group establishes themselves as a revivalist for the power-pop sounds of old.
SOME WORDS, PHRASES AND CLAUSES ABOUT THIS RECORD: Running down the pieces and parts that make up the homages on the Shazam’s first album would take a while, but rest assured anyone that would play a note of melodic rock with harmonies would be included.
Hans Rotenberry, the leader of the band, definitely knows what he likes, and the band plays it well. It’s a great sounding album that deserved more of a hearing (like most modern power pop), with nice harmonies, great melodies and guitar work that’s tasteful yet propulsive.
The issue is that Rotenberry didn’t have a purge button. After a dozen songs it gets a little wearying and samey. A good dozen songs is better than putting out 17 with some filler.
NOTES & MINUTIAE: Their website is still up, but it looks like the last gig they played was 2011.
IS THERE A DELUXE VERSION: No
GRADE: B: It could have been a contender for one of the best modern(ish) power pop albums had it not gone on too long.
