Shannon and the Clams 
Dreams in the Rat House
Hardly Art
Street: 05.21
Shannon & The Clams = Hunx & His Punx + Nobunny
When Sleep Talk came out two years ago, it managed to blend forced nostalgia with something fresh. Shannon Shaw and Cody Blanchard’s vocals wail over the plucky surf-rock guitar, churning out complex yet familiar melodies. Shannon’s calculated growl makes me feel like like I am at a beach-themed high school formal in the early ‘60s. This time around, there is a bit more of a rockabilly influence, but the sound is still unmistakably theirs. My only complaint is that there are a few points in the album that try for a more raw visceral sound, “Bed Rock” being the best example. It doesn’t sound natural for them, especially after an extra-swoony “Rip Van Winkle”. They maintained enough of what made the last album great, and changed enough to sound interesting and new. ¬–Cody Hudson