When garage rock made its revival in the late 2000s, Hunx and His Punx were right in the thick of it. Their career moved just as fast and frantically as their sound. After only a few years, things came to a halt, and bandleader Seth Bogart turned to other pursuits.
By the late 2010s, the group had found its way back together. Tours were played, studios booked. But a series of personal hardships delayed the release of “Walk Out On This World” (Get Better) considerably.
Those struggles also shaped the music. The band’s swaying, slightly sticky Sixties pop now has shadows lurking beneath it. On “Rainy Day in LA”, the mood turns outright melancholic—the tears may never fully dry.
Much of the spotlight falls on Shannon Shaw, who since the death of her fiancé has channeled grief into commanding performances. She shines brilliantly on the opener “Alone in Hollywood on Acid”.
The result is a comeback album that feels familiar and connects back to their early days, though at times it sags a little under the weight of everything that has happened. A band in the process of regathering itself.
Hunx and His Punx – Walk Out On This World: Stylish power pop. – RIFL