SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: PEARL HARBOR & THE EXPLOSIONS – PEARL HARBOR & THE EXPLOSIONS

PEARL HARBOR & THE EXPLOSIONS
PEARL HARBOR & THE EXPLOSIONS
LIBERATION HALL/MVD

Pearl Harbor & The Explosions may have been part of the punk movement in San Francisco, but they were never really punk. By 1980, Pearl Harbor and The Explosions were made up of Hilary and John Hanes (who played bass and drums respectively) and Peter Dunne (guitar) and they had attracted enough attention to be signed to a major label, Warner Brothers. They did thrive on the spirit of punk, and the DIY attitude, but in truth, they were a strong pop rock band who produced aggressive and remarkably melodic songs. Their debut (and only) album, Pearl Harbor & The Explosions, was a breath of fresh air when it was released in 1980. Here was a band that was combining a lot of influences to make a strong and extremely impressive album.

Pearl Harbor & The Explosions was expertly produced by David Kahne, who would go on to produce Paul McCartney. Tony Bennett and The Bangles knew how to produce this band. Their playing is sharp and tight. Harbor’s vocals are stunning. She brings a lot to the proceedings. She shows restraint when necessary and she can really rock with the best of them when the song warrants it. “Up And Over”, for example, is a straight-ahead rocker. The same with “Busy Little B-Side” (which has been added to the album as a bonus cut). The band provides the perfect backing while she does her own thing. She always had a unique vocal, with excellent use of her voice.

The band is equally smart to do what they do best and stick to it. There are no long and overdrawn drum or guitar solos (although the guitar solo on the original “Drivin’” is fantastic), The Explosions seem to have cut their teeth on classic 1960s pop. They had a hard driving rhythm section, and the songs were little bolts of excitement. The music borrows from the 1960s and the then bursting New Wave wound. You would be forgiven, as you listen to the album, if you think they are a British-based New Wave band.

Sadly, this is their only album. One can only imagine where the band would have gone, given their talent and sound. Harbor would go on to release great solo albums, but the band ended too early. Pearl Harbor & The Explosions is the sound of a young band. Bonus tracks have been added to the album, which is a good thing, B-sides, the original indie version of their biggest hit, “Drivin’ and a live recording from 1979 (“Let’s Eat”) which shows a much more aggressive band than can be heard on the album. A radio commercial is even included, which rounds out the album quite nicely.

Pearl Harbor & The Explosions may not have the same impact as The Sex Pistols or Ramones debuts, but it does have a great deal of charm, character, and great music. This re-release allows people to embrace a wonderful album, a product of its time, and a brilliant young band who were still in the process of finding their sound. Harbor steals her strong and brilliant vocals. But the whole package is well worth your time and the bonus tracks are welcomed as well. An excellent and important re-release of a great album that is waiting to be re-discovered.

SPILL FEATURE: BACK ON THE STREETS WHERE IT FEELS SO RIGHT – A CONVERSATION WITH PEARL HARBOUR 

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