Review: Clear Plastic Masks’ ‘Being There’
Their songs shake with power and promise
Nashville’s burgeoning rock ‘n’ roll music scene just got even better with the release of Clear Plastic Masks’ Being There.
The greasy, ’70s rock-addled quartet got together in Brooklyn, New York, and came to Nashville, Tennessee, to record. They never left, signing with Kings of Leon label Serpents & Snakes Records and helping round out a music scene that’s gotten a lot of attention in recent years.
Being There was produced by Alabama Shakes producer Andrija Tokic, and the album shares a lot of the hallmarks that helped make the Shakes a surprise breakout.
First, there’s charismatic lead singer Andrew Katz, who like the Shakes’ Brittany Howard, has a commanding stage presence, an interesting voice and an off-kilter point of view and songwriting sense that can appeal to many different listeners. And like the Shakes, Katz’s backing band shares a powerful chemistry that’s unusual in a group just on the scene.
The band has two modes: lounge and loud. Katz has a tendency to lean back and sing from time to time, sitting at the keyboard with a twinkling grin. But Clear Plastic Masks is at its best on songs such as Pegasus in Glue, Shakedown and the film score-ready Dos Cobras, tracks where Katz leans in and really joins with the band like a closed fist.
Those songs shake with power and promise — and might just open the door for another Nashville band.
