The Mommyheads "Coney Island Kid" ALBUM REVIEW [indie-prog-pop]

by Dean Wolfe, Prog dog Media    [album released July 31, 2023]

This solid new album from The Mommyheads is so full of fresh creative twists and turns I can only surmise every single member of the band is a full fledged record producer. And because of this it's hard to imagine that there wouldn't be a little something for everyone here on this 15th release from a band I'm embarrassed to admit I've not come across until now.

Coming out of NYC they do have a sort of overall big city kinda grit, but also earthy vibes. The prog influences are indie-pop flavoured. There are even touches on jazz, like on the track Onset MA which has - like all the songs on this album- brilliant and powerful moments that defy the most cynical of music critics. 

Let me sum up my assessment process of this album as I re-listen to it: It's like being on the hook-end of a fishing rod that undeniably and ever-so slowly reels you in. The real question is 'Will I get scooped up out of the water in a net and get tossed into The Mommyhead's fridge for dinner?' 

Only time will tell I guess but it is encouraging to me that a band with a long history like The Mommyheads can still knock 'em right out of the park. 

"Coney Island Kid" is a concept album, and so all of its intriguing compositions are somehow bound together with this theme. There are interesting little snapshots of recordings from the famous amusement park binding the tracks all together as well. I've always found old amusement parks strangely creepy at times, so the album cover was initially creepy to me as well. After some spins of the disc it's just totally cute to me now. That little child has a sweet, expectant and innocent expression oblivious to the scary old gargoyles and ghoulish faces surround her. This is a powerful image. 

I'm making an educated guess but surely XTC fans would readily embrace this music, and Neal Morse Band fans. Same goes for fans of later Beatles and even Genesis a la 1974 thanks to some bass work reminiscent of Michael Rutherford's crunchy Rickenbacker bass. 

As far as the pallette of colours employed here, synthesizers and keys do play a serious role. Several tracks also feature steel string acoustic guitars, possibly dobro?, plus of course electric guitars, plenty of great vocal harmonies, and very in-the-pocket drums and electric bass. The lead vocals are very good- expressive, quite likeable. I find something about his voice familiar but frustratingly I can't pin it down. Is it a Don McLean "American Pie" kind of voice? Perhaps, but more mature and seasoned. 

The tagline on the band's Twitter (X) is "We’ve played thousands of shows to hundreds of people". Too many great bands suffer this fate! This would not be for lack of talent as musicians or songwriters. Nor for lack of effort- they were signed to Geffen records for an album, for heaven's sake!... which received plenty of glowing reviews from some high places. 

Prog dog Score: "Coney Island Kid" by the Mommyheads is a solid 4 out of 5 bones. It's inventively written, creatively produced and performed, full of pragmatic groove and mature verve. Anyone searching for intelligent, catchy music that grabs you on first listen- what are you waiting for? 

to see a video interview with the Mommyheads' Andy Elk: https://youtu.be/Npwz1LsmdrQ

to see a video version of this review: https://youtu.be/atO4N4O-gRQ