The Replacements were so luminescent because they played their bizarre, specific brand of rock for the kids at the front, all snot, spit and sweat. In trying so blatantly to recapture that magic, The Deadbeat Bang of Heartbreak City can't help but feel like a lot of smoke and mirrors.
U.S. alt.rock crew Beach Slang age less disgracefully on The Deadbeat Bang Of Heartbreak City.
The Philly band’s rousing punk anthems lose a little luster on an album that feels more motivated by desperation than starry-eyed conviction.
Beach Slang toed the line on earlier albums with their Replacements-worship, but Deadbeat Bang of Heartbreak City pushes them over that line.
On Deadbeat Bang of Heartbreak City, James Alex's (Beach Slang) homage to his heroes sounds exhausted.