The Radiant Fitz & The Tantrums

I’ve been enraptured with the songs on Fitz and the Tantrums debut EP, “Songs For A Break Up: Volume 1.” The Los Angeles based band's songs are luminous, well crafted and instantly memorable, with big, open choruses that sweep you up in their incandescent wake. They’re one part old, forgotten soul, one part Nuggets style garage rock, along with a dash of early "She's Gone" era Hall & Oates. Fitz’s voice has elements of Jack White along with echoes of dozens of forgotten one shot hit makers of 70’s AM gold, and he rarely fails to delight.

The production is definitely of the post-Mark Ronson school; retro feeling but with hints of modernity. The sound works for them, but they could stand to create a sound that is more uniquely theirs - if they do, they'll be even more formidable.

Mark Ronson has featured “Breakin’ The Chains Of Love” on his East Village Radio show, but I think “Don’t Gotta Work It Out” is a superior song. With a pre-chorus reminiscent of the Spinners classic “Rubberband Man,” it then slides into a chorus that feels like turning the roof down on a 1964 Pontiac convertible on a brilliant Southern California day right about the time you hit Route 1. Gorgeous and gleaming stuff.

Download: Fitz & The Tantrums - "Don't Gotta Work It Out"

Fitz & The Tantrums MySpace


Fitz & The Tantrums Performing LIVE! that's right LIVE!!! "Breakin' the Chains of Love" from Fitz&theTantrums on Vimeo.