Named after spikes used to keep amorous young men from climbing up onto the balconies of ‘Juliets’ in New Orleans, this debut album blasts opens with electronic, futuristic space-rock opener ‘Spaceman’, the peak of tempo for Romeo Spike, with dance beats, guitars and atmospheric sound effects breaking out into a slow Doves-like vocal harmony.
The rest of the album lays out a wide range of influences, evident from lead singer Mike Kunz’s Chris Martin-sounding vocals on ‘Star Power’ and ‘Laserbeams’, to the Pink Floyd-like guitar and vocals on ‘Candy Heart’.
The contemporary and melodic ‘Spector’s Ghost’ is definitely the album’s highlight, with the epic wall of sound that is ‘Lipstick Lesley’ closely snapping at its heels.
Created by two friends living hundreds of miles apart – one in Atlanta, the other in Chicago – this easy listening, radio-friendly album is melodic alternative pop rock. There is no denying the band are talented but the album packs any real punch; in particular, ‘It’s Only Real’ has the power to make you reach for the ‘skip’ button on each listen of the album.