Billy Peake‘s new album Manic Waves delivers a captivating mixture of hooky rock, nostalgic new wave, and sharp lyrical wit. Navigating personal and societal themes, from reflections on family and fatherhood to incisive critiques of modern life, the release impresses with both playful energy and thoughtful storytelling. Drawing on decades of experience in Columbus, Ohio’s underground scene, the 49-year-old Peake channels influences ranging from ’80s pop to college radio discoveries, combining them with contributions from collaborators that include engineering by Mike Montgomery (Superchunk, The Breeders, Protomartyr) and mastering by Sarah Register (David Bowie, Depeche Mode, Caroline Rose).
“Go Back to Where You Came From” kickstarts the album with a sweltering intrigue, culminating in a title-touting vocal refrain with droning guitar hypnotics and bouncy rhythmic flair — inducing a fuzzy rock swagger that leads seamlessly into the tighter, expansive art-rock pulse of the title track. There, triumphant brass tones soar amidst panting drums and hazy guitar buzzing, as introspective vocals envelop throughout. “Isolation suits me, more than I probably should admit,” an especially magnetic bridge exudes, building into the “send these magnetic waves to shore” fervent repetition — feeling like a thematic rumination on the tension between self-reliance and the need for connection.
Charisma and personality are on display throughout the album’s memorable songwriting, managing to infuse evident emotion while still spinning playful takes on modern society’s absurdities. “Granddad Was a Demon” seems to poke fun at the current state of dopamine-driven activity, propelled by smartphone activity. “You can’t stop my tweets. My digital daggers,” Peake’s debonair vocals let out, resembling a social media-addled grandfather unafraid to confront inhabitants of the digital age. The Halloween-set ardor of this production then shifts into a soulful rock gem in “Inadvertent Trip,” where enthralling backing vocal chills from Extra Special (Belle Mare) pair with guitar pulses for a stylish, replay-inducing allure.
The aptly titled “Big Energy” presents as such with its confident vocal stride, buzzing guitars, and bluesy charisma; it’s a no-frills rock rouser that does well at the album’s mid-point in bridging the anthemic “Annie, You’re a Lightning Bolt” and the funky, crunchy second-guessing within “Maybe We Shouldn’t!!” — showing shades of Talking Heads. The album’s back-half delights as well, ranging from the forlorn alt-folk grip of “Age of Dumb” to cinematic finale “There’s Not a Punk in the Universe…” — which, like the title track, absolutely excels in its brass-laden rock spiritedness. Manic Waves stands as a definitive success, immersing with songwriting abundant in personality, hooks, and thematic relevancy.
