By Brian Rock
Fantastic Cat returns for their third and “most-likely-to-prompt-a-lawsuit-from-the-Meat-Loaf-estate album yet,” Cat out of Hell. The New York based supergroup of Anthony D’Amato, Don DiLego, Brian Dunne, and Mike Montali still bring that Raspberries’ style power pop energy. But this time around they add a few more ballads, befitting their lyrical shift from jittery angst to measured reflection. Still tackling life’s challenges head on, they toggle from resignation to resolve. Like Mary Chapin Carpenter’s the bug, they try to find meaning amidst life’s ups and downs; all while cranking out insanely catchy melodies from diverse influences from The Band to Cheap Trick to Corb Lund.
The journey begins literally and metaphorically on, “Donnie Takes The Bus.” Pre-recorded concert crowd cheers welcome our heroes as they quickly dive into crunchy, power chords. A bouncy rhythm, punctuated by drums and piano set the pace as the Cats seek an answer to the question, “Oh my Lord, when am I gonna be free?’. The bus takes them from town to town and from experience to experience. Yearning for freedom, but not entirely sure what to do with it when they find it; they set off on a mystery tour in the hopes that answers will present themselves. Rhythmic influences from The Band add an optimistic tone to the uncertainty.
‘How’s That Working Out?,” provides an early answer to their quest. Frenetic, Chris Montez inspired electric organ gives the song a carnival tilt-a-wheel effect as they sing, “You had a real bad year. They had no sympathy at all” A murky story of drugs, gunmen, and a trip to Vegas unfold at a breakneck pace as the band finds themselves moving from bad to worse. The outstanding, Dylanesque folk rock of, “Elevator,” tries to turn lemons into lemonade. Realizing things aren’t going as planned, they adopt a plan B: “When the elevator’s broken, you gotta take the stairs.” Like their dreams of glory, their romantic prospects are also coming up short. “The Waiting Room,” laments waiting for commitment in counterintuitive Smithereens’ power pop tones. Singing, “How long do you want me to wait for you? I’m gonna die in the waiting room,” the band expresses their frustration. Trying to figure out how to act while they wait for some sort of resolution, they decide to, “try to be decent but don’t make a whole thing about it.” Sage advice, no matter what the situation. Continuing the bad to worse theme, “Lucy,” reveals the aftermath of the relationship they longed for. Anthemic, Fleetwood Mac style folk rock both celebrates and condemns the woman who is making a fool of them.
“I Spoke To God A Lot Last Year,” finds the band seeking help from a higher power. Mellow folk rock rhythms accompany their prayers as they, “spoke to God, but he never spoke back.” Not receiving the answer they wanted, they decide to, “Turn Off The Lights.” A bittersweet ballad of resignation, they concede, “this place ain’t working for us anymore.” Low on hope, they moan, “if you’re the last one out, you better turn off the lights.” Just when things seem darkest, they find a ray of light. “Don’t Let Go,” offers a Billy Joel style piano driven anthem to not giving up. Singing, “She said it’s time to reassess your life. Are you sure that’s what you’re like?’, they stop for the first time to actually take stock of where they are and how they got there. Confessing, “There was a time when I felt I was strong. Everyone but me was wrong. Now where’d that go?’; they realize that maybe they weren’t as stone cold sure as they thought. The realization causes them to go, “Back To The Beginning.” A tender ballad about second chances, it confronts the ghosts of past mistakes. With a fresh start and clear sense of self, the Cats are ready to try again. “Mona Be Still,” is a touching ballad about giving more than you try to receive. The band doubles down on commitment with the Abbey Road era Beatles inspired song, “No Goddamn Way.” After all they’ve been through, they advise, “The wolves are out and they’re vicious now. But there ain’t no goddamn way I’ll let you down.” Turning their pain into power, Fantastic Cat learns that helping others is the most effective way to help yourself. The band extrapolates that truth on the meditative ballad, “Nobody Better.” Summing up their journey, they sing, “This living gets lonely. I know all too well, there ain’t nobody better than nobody else.” Taking a sonically satisfying bus ride from confusion to clarity, Fantastic Cat weaves poignant storytelling with hook heavy melodies on “Cat Out Of Hell.” It’s one of those albums that makes you yearn for the next one. Perhaps, “Fantastic Cat Scratch Fever?” Or maybe a little more subtle, like, “Tabby Road?” Whatever the title, you can be sure their next album, like this is one, will be Fantastic.
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Brian Rock
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