It must be a tough row for bands musically influenced by the The Clash and The Replacements not have their music sound like those legendary groups. This creates problems for bands that let these influences stick out like power lines in open fields.
Chicago’s AM Taxi is one of those bands, and maybe that’s one reason its debut is called We Don’t Stand a Chance: It serves as a sly nod to critics who bemoan the lack of originality in today’s music. But I’m not going to do that here. These guys write some catchy-ass songs, and I don’t care where the genesis came from. I just want to sing along.
Following 13 seconds of reverb on the opening “Dead Street,” We Don’t Stand A Chance rollicks through the next 45 minutes at breakneck speed, sporting rowdy choruses and sharp lyrics. Frontman Adam Krier rasps amiably as the power chords and thumping drums coast merrily along. “Charissa” touts its Clash roots with grinding guitars and gang-backing vocals, belied by touching lyrics, while “The Mistake” pumps a Mats’ beat and killer hook against Krier’s halting words (“I am the ambulance that never comes/ I am the anecdote you spill”).
There are musical double takes — “Reckless Ways” is Weezer, “Maydays & Rosaries” is The Police, “Fed Up” is Bruce Springsteen and Jimmy Eat World is EVERYWHERE — but the imitations aren’t obvious, and the melding of influences creates a genre all its own.
Are there bumps? Sure. “Champagne Toast” ends the album on an odd, low-tempo note, while “Shake, Rattle & Stall” is a tired melody you’ve heard a million times before. No matter. AM Taxi celebrates its heroes, but doesn’t ape them. Joe Strummer would be flattered.
