ARTIST: The Exploding Hearts

TITLE: Guitar Romantic

YEAR RELEASED: 2003

CHART ACTION: None

SINGLES: Modern Kicks, I’m a Pretender

OTHER SONGS YOU MAY KNOW: None

LINEUP: Matt Fitzgerald, Adam Cox, Jeremy Gage, Terry Six. King Louie Bankston helped on keyboards.

WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT: Hearkening back to the late 70’s UK, The Exploding Hearts had a lo-fi UK punk sound and were poised to break out, until tragedy struck.

SOME WORDS, PHRASES AND CLAUSES ABOUT THIS RECORD: Sounding like a lost record from 1978 UK, full of hooks and attitude, The Exploding Hearts burned up Oregon and the West Coast with their sound and style.

They were definitely punk, but in the mode of Buzzcocks crossed with the Rubinoos. The production of the record was a bit raw, but it fit perfectly. The songs stuck with you as they were full of hooks and verve.

Sadly, they never got their deserved breakout due to tragedy. On their way back from a show in San Francisco, they were about 100 miles way from Portland when their van had an accident, causing the death of three members, leaving just guitarist Terry Six behind.

They had a lot of potential, and it snuffed out just like that. We still have this record to remember them by, though.

NOTES & MINUTIAE: Singles, compilation songs and alternate mixes are captured on Shattered, which includes a few songs destined for their next album.

IS THERE A DELUXE VERSION: No

 GRADE A: It’s a damn shame they’re gone as this record is top-notch.