Telenovela You're Gonna Need It On Limited Edition Vinyl LP

Danceable rock music that is a modern take on late 70s punk, 60s pop and garage rock, and kooky electronic music, which is actually fairly accurate. Telenovela blends '60s folk harmonies with surf guitar, layered rhythms, and smart pop sensibilties.

If you’ve ever seen one of those Spike Lee movies where you hear two conversations going on simultaneously—and one is mixed louder than the other—you have a good idea of the vocals employed with Telenovela. On the band’s sophomore disc, guitarist Shelly Villasenor and bassist Amy Malick weave intricate lines that always merge with and play off each other complimented by the Fred Schneider like vocals of drummer Geoff Atkinson. And then Villasenor ups the ante by throwing in guitar lines that sound like a third voice. If she could concentrate on all that plus jump rope, chew tobacco and recite the Pledge of Allegiance backward, it wouldn’t be a shock, either.

Then again, Telenovela is all about the interplay. On You’re Gonna Need It, the recipe stays intact, with a few modifications—songs like “TWSIF” and “Methodical” have Malick gently intoning, and the continued use of minor keys gives much of this album an extremely sinister shadow. We’re tempted to say it’s “introspective” as well, but while the word indeed fits at times. The trio, rounded out by drummer Geoff Atkinson who keeps it all grounded with his competent drumming, has a little too much aggro going on to be confined to that idea. And good for them. Rocking while reflecting isn’t always the easiest tightrope to walk, but damn if Telenovela doesn’t pull it off.

Telenovela have the energy of the punk movement with intricately crafted pop guitar and bass melodies, allowing a sort of healthy give and take relationship between the two instruments. For fans of Elastica, Kraftwerk, Wire, and the Pixies.

Telenovela You're Gonna Need It Track Listing

1. Twsif
2. Without Thinking
3. Methodical
4. Trash
5. Decline
6. Stay home
7. Sabado Gigante
8. Refugee/Hideaway
9. The Human Ending
10. Kill You
11. Nightandday
12. So low
13. Straightfwd