For those of us of a certain age, we remember when Universal Music opened the floodgates of greatest hits collections called the "20th Century Masters." Michael Jackson, the Who, KISS, Steve Earle. Lynyrd Skynyrd. No one was safe from being memorialized on these packages which on the surface, appeared to be artists' absolute greatest songs ever recorded, in the 20th Century, anyway. The weren't always, but they were still darn good CDs. And they sold a ton! I seem to remember they always came out just before Christmas.

It's now the 21st Century, and Boston's the Family Township, or from what I can gather, now just Township, have taken an ironic jab at them with both the artwork and title of their new CD, 20th Century Wasters. I laughed, and then I listened, and then I loved it! I first became aware of the band last week while listening to a recent episode of the Boston music-centric podcast hosted by Steev Ricardo, Blowing Smoke with Twisted Rico. You can check out Episode 289 in which he interviews the band's Mark Pinansky on Spotify or wherever fine podcasts are served.

From what I have since learned, the aforementioned Township - Pinansky (vocals/guitars), Pete Maclean (drums), John Sheeran (bass), and Alejandro Necochea (guitars/vocals) have been flooring Boston-area crowds with their brand of new wave of classic rock for close to two decades now. In fact, The Boston Globe once called them “…a powder keg potent mix of reverential sincerity, escapist silliness, and more flashback-familiar hooks you can flick a Bic at.”

With more hooks than a tackle box, 20th Century Wasters is a fantastic homage to bands who have influenced them, either directly or indirectly while sounding completely original. Dual electric guitars, pounding basslines, driving beats, and vocals that can both soar and screech can be found throughout the album. There are definite nods to Thin Lizzy, Aldo Nova and more throughout.

Back in 2005, just as the leaves were starting to turn in New England, the guys who make up Township found each other, and once they did, there was no stopping them. They realized they shared a common desire to create music that reflected their own musical inspirations, and that drive still burns bright today. Not long after they formed, they hit the stage for the very first time, and from then on, they kept the amps at 11 and the pedal squarely placed on the metal. Since then, they've stayed true to their mission of crafting genuine rock and roll that reflects their influences while carving out their unique space in the music scene. It's a commitment that's never faltered.