Detroit band captures sweet retro sound

I may not have been alive in the 1960’s, but I feel that we’ve all listened to enough oldies radio to have a pretty good grasp of what went on in this nation before the hippie infestation. This second hand knowledge makes for good party talk and, from the sound of Detroit’s Saturday Looks Good to Me, some good pop music.

Saturday Looks Good to Me exists in a parallel retro-universe. While busy recreating a Phil Spector vibe, they unknowingly create a 1964 that never existed. Sure, the compressed vocals, horn sections and layers of reverb bring us to a time when gas was cheaper and avocado was an appliance color and not a fruit (or is it a vegetable?), but don’t be fooled. Saturday Looks Good to Me’s retro vibe is just a clever disguise for a bunch of disaffected, DIY punk rockers who never quite overcame their fascination with their parents’ record collection.

This means a few things. If you still listen to Neil Diamond or have ever considered attending Oldies Fest in Salt Lake City, this band is the best thing to come along since Herman left the Hermits. The rest of us have some hope too, though. This is pop music. The production is ornate, the lyrics are mostly trite and the whole affair can touch on the saccharine. But it’s also good. These songs may not have been around since 1960, but they’re catchy enough to stay with you until 2040.

The boy/girl vocals and dreamy lyrics are enough for all of tomorrow’s slumber parties and summer days. However, I do need to warn you. After a listen-through to one of their three albums, you may find yourself a little sore from some serious head-bobbing. Yes, they’re that good.

So, do yourself a favor, call your chiropractor and give these guys a spin.

Zach Pendleton is a staff writer for the Utah Statesman. Comments can be sent to him at

zpendleton@cc.usu.edu