All Of This Ends In Tears is the latest album by Popular Creeps a 4 piece College rock/power pop band from Detroit. All four members have been in a bunch of local bands that I've never heard of, over on this side of the pond. The four Popular Creeps in question are Joe Heaphy, Lenny Grassa, Andrew Colvin and Dave Nantais. This band shouldn't be confused with the Popular Creeps in Pennsylvania.
From the opening of Black & Blue it's clear we are in classic College rock/Power Pop territory as the never-ending fighting and scrapping that always starts after one of you tells the truth unfolds in the lyrics.
Window is not as bleak as the Peter Laughner's use of a Window in Dear Richard, but they are certainly over the precipice and in trouble, this comes replete with Byrd's style jangling guitars this almost sounds like it could have come out on Bezerkley Home of the hits in the mid to late 70's.
Gone By 45 rumbles into life like a re-work of something by Graham Parker & The Rumour, as this sad tale of a friend who has gone far too soon. This song is also catchy enough that after just three listens I'm singing along to the chorus while remembering some of my friends who didn't even make it as far as 45.
From The Past is a good description of Popular Creeps music, as this certainly sounds like it comes from the late 70's or so, this one steals from the mod revival of The Jam, Secret Affair et al, it may be new but it has comfortable feel, so you wonder where you heard it before, this is very easy to listen too.
Keep It To Myself is something the band hope I don't do, so go out buy the album, you too can hear this song of forgiveness for the things you've done to upset your boy or girl friend, all the things you've done but can't tell each other about, as the guitars soar and it goes a bit country rock in places.
Wait Forever opens like an old Slim Chance tune, in that bucolic neckerchief rock kind of way, this is quiet and closely whispered words of someone who has no regrets and will never say sorry for all that he's done to you.
Wait & See is a more full on college rocker with a Crazy Horse edge to it, As he tells you to wait for him like he's the Adonis missing from your life, well judging by the rest of the songs that's just a lie to get in your pants, but of course a song like this might just work and he'll try anyway.
Split Decision is about yet another break up, these guys are obviously rather selfish, getting dumped all the time as all they care about is playing in a band and getting the guitars to chime just right, nailing the vocals rather than the latest soon to be ex. He can wish all he wants for one more chance, but I guess he's out of luck again.
Flamethrower has a very familiar sound to it that I can't quite pin down, but it does make me think of one unlikely band Johnathan Fire*Eater, either way the guitars fly off and sound more early 90's than late 70's as they rail against someone in a dead-end corporate job.
Tear Me Apart is speedy angsty break up nervous breakdown in a similar style to Tom Dyer's New Pagan Gods, as they vamp it up, while knowing yet again it's over.
The album closes with Favorite Picture that is yet again about a messy break up, they've done it again and driven another partner out the door, this is redolent with regrets for what went wrong and again has that Slim Chance neckerchief vibe to it.
Find out more at https://bigstirrecords.com/popular-creeps https://bigstirrecords.bandcamp.com/album/all-of-this-will-end-in-tears https://www.facebook.com/PopularCreepsDetroit
