After 18 years, The Rock*A*Teens returned this summer with Sixth House. While the group’s sixth album doesn’t throw any surprise punches, songs such as “Billy Really,” “Lady Macbeth” and “Crystal Skies” rise above the signature haze of reverb and distortion layered over singer and guitarist Chris Lopez’s haunting tales of heartache in the Deep South. The current lineup of Lopez, guitarist Justin Hughes, bass player William Joiner and drummer (and former Flagpole Music Editor) Ballard Lesemann have channeled a stark and humid ambiance into their songs. With this latest round of tunes, the R*A*Ts embrace their atmospheric indie-rock legacy while tightening their focus on crafting rich and timeless melodies.
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