Melodic hard-rock bands are less common in Madison than they once were. As local music has migrated to indie, electronic, hip-hop, punk and rock-metal, few bands write power riffs and accessible melodies with equal dexterity.
The Treats are an exception. I so liked their 2007 release, Reservoir Tales, that I picked it as my favorite Madison album of that year.
Their latest album, Sir Unicorn, finds the Treats revving up the adrenaline even as they demonstrate respect for the art of song structure. "Everybody's Got to Go" is a highlight, showcasing Andrew Isham's rugged voice and the intense instrumentation that accompanies him.
The Treats are a tad less dreamy this time out. That's a quality I miss. Still, Sir Unicorn is the kind of passionate rock album Madison needs more of.
