The Paybacks Albums (3)
'Love, Not Reason'
Release Date 11/14/2006
Tracks 11
Label Savage Jams
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
The third time really does seem to be the charm for Wendy Case and her latest lineup of the Paybacks -- their third album, Love, Not Reason is the band's tightest, hardest, and most satisfying effort to date. Made after Case's self-confessed retreat from a longtime alcohol addiction, Love, Not Reason has a tight focus and sense of discipline that eluded her earlier work, and there's a maturity in songs like "Dumb Love," "Stranger in the House," and "Shotgunn" that demonstrates hard-won street smarts without getting in the way of her rocker's instincts; these songs are full of lessons learned but bear no regrets, and tough love drips from every pore of this music. But most importantly, Love, Not Reason rocks like nobody's business; Case's fierce, passionate vocals can caress or tear at will, she and lead player Danny Methric lock their guitars like dueling swordsmen (cue up "Painkiller" to hear some truly fierce soloing), and drummer John Hafer and bassist John Szymanski make for a hard-kicking rhythm section that drives this music like it ought to be on the Bonneville Salt Flats. Merging the swagger of hard rock, the no-compromise commitment of punk, and a very '70s sense of melodic thunder, Love, Not Reason demonstrates the Paybacks are one of the few bands on the Detroit scene whose work can stand beside that of their fabled forefathers of the Grande Ballroom era, and anyone looking for an aural dose of high energy will find it right here. ~ Mark Deming, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Harder and Harder, the second album from Detroit's Paybacks, is a blistering collection of dirty, metallic garage rock songs. Fronted by the androgynous, whiskey-voiced Wendy Case -- who is easily the toughest chick in rock since the days when Joan Jett loved rock & roll this much -- the band is equal parts swagger and stagger as it plugs away on melodic anthems like "Bright Side" and the glittery blues of "Jumpy." If scorching rockers like "Superrider" and "Scotch Love" assert how powerful and unrelenting this Motor City quartet can be, the soulfully executed ballad "Can You Drive?" suggests the band can do more than raise hell. But by calling this sonic firecracker Harder and Harder, the Paybacks will never be accused of false advertising. ~ John D. Luerssen, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Amid Detroit's vibrant trash rock underground lie many different and unique artists. One of the most memorable is the Paybacks, a powerful combo that takes their cue from the power pop scene of the late '70s. Their sound is still distinctly from Detroit, offering gobs of loud guitars and supercharged drumming that give the material the edge that's necessary to make it work. With more hooks than a bait shop and an impeccable sense of timing, songs like "If I Fell" and "Just You Wait" are energetic nuggets that find their success in simplicity. Written by singer/guitarist Wendy Case and guitarist Marco Delicato, the album has a directness that keeps the whole affair lean and fast-paced. Case's rough voice and confident approach invites Joan Jett/Chrissie Hynde comparisons, but she adds a biting shot of personality that makes it distinctly her own. Years of hard-fought experience taught the band valuable lessons in presentation and attitude, and this results in memorable riffs, big choruses, and clever lyrics that hinge on Case's charismatic growl. Like many of the Detroit rock records from this time period, Knock Loud is a cool, fat-free, and fun album that deserves to be played loudly. ~ Bradley Torreano, All Music Guide
