Over the past few years, I’ve enjoyed the evolution of Kyle Gordon’s interpretations of ‘60s rock through the lens of his solo project MammaBear. Gordon has always displayed a willingness to mix classic garage tones with more linear power pop elements and a relaxed Southern mentality, but the fully blossomed pop gems from his previous work have generally relied on his eagerness to take full advantage of the studio (he blames this tendency on his love of the Beatles). An end result of this process is that MammaBear’s live performances necessarily chop up the tracks into more taut permutations of garage rock. I’m happy to report, then, that the new single from group’s upcoming LP SAY is a complete embrace of the band’s fiery live sound.

Although “Love Drug” is about Gordon’s love and commitment to his wife, in its simplest form it’s a song about the addictive qualities of attraction. It’s a timeworn topic in rock and roll, and that’s kind of the point for Gordon as he seeks to capture the immediacy and human connection forged at rock shows. Though he initially recorded the track for the group’s 2016 album Chocolate, he was dissatisfied with final product, and it’s been thoroughly rehashed on the drawing board since then.

Gordon teamed up with David Prasse (Slush Fund Recs) for the recording and production of the record, and the result is both a modernized take on Stiff Records power pop and a radio-ready embrace of indie rock guitar hooks. “Love Drug” has less of a vintage feel that some of MammaBear’s older tracks, but Gordon’s Britrock sneer still cuts through the heavy low end with ease.

The pair connected while at a benefit show for local hard rockers Big Jesus, and though they didn’t discuss it at the time, both were thinking of the future of MammaBear’s sound (according to Gordon, this meant capturing “an explosion of energy”). He elaborates that both this track and the rest of the album are “an attempt at letting mistakes and human error back into the album making process. I’m not censoring myself this time, I’m not reaching for the perfect take.” This may be true, but with “Love Drug” he may have already found it.

Listen below.

SAY will be out sometime later this year.

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