Aroma

Aromatic for the People
by Steve Tremain

There was a point in the mid-to-late ’80s where power pop/rock had pretty much the same elements in today’s grunge, but incorporated more melody and oddball effects and structure. That’s sort of the way Aroma is. The usual strung-out angst is in Aromatic for the People, as well as distorted guitars and the requisite throwback to arena rock grandiosity. But also included is some quirky pop sensibility, a sort of singsong nasal voice that doesn’t whine all that much, and song forms that differ from the norm. Although not really venturing out into unexplored territory, and has a tendency to fade into background music at times, Aromatic for the People is a good kick in the pants to all the bands who play paint-by-numbers grunge rock.
(Fuse Records PO Box 578497 Chicago, IL 60657)