Album Reviews
Cleveland, OH’s Model Martel just released their debut album ‘A Thousand Couple Times’ on Snappy Little Numbers.
If you are wondering where the name comes from: it’s a nod to pro wrestling legend Rick “The Model” Martel. “Three of us are huge wrestling fans,” vocalist/guitarist Tim Gill explains. “The fourth one often has to turn off our group chat during wrestling events.”
One thing you won’t want to turn off, though, is this album. Made up of longtime friends and collaborators, Gill is joined by Jason Utes (bass), Rozco/Chris Provchy (guitar), and Ryan Kelly (drums). Together they crafted eleven heartfelt, up-tempo, and highly melodic songs that throw back to ’90s emo with even a hint of Goo Goo Dolls seeping into single Mitt. Also really cool that they snuck in a lyrical nod to Baha Men’s biggest hit by wondering out loud who let the dogs out. Hopefully intentional, because it’s about time Baha Men got some respect.
Other highlights include opener Green Hat, Whizzer, the fast-paced Attuned, and Ozempic. But honestly, there isn’t a dud here. With most songs clocking in under three minutes, nothing overstays its welcome. The mix of driving drums and melodic hooks makes A Thousand Couple Times a tight, compelling listen start to finish.
And the best part? The band already has half of the next record written and plans to hit the studio again early next year.
A Thousand Couple Times tracklist:
- Green Hat
- Mitt
- Dramedies
- Planet Earth
- Whizzer
- Watercolors
- Attuned
- Puritas
- Ozempic
- Guardians
- NES
Lacking the talent to actually play in a band, Tom decided he would write about bands instead. Turns out his writing skills are mediocre at best as well.
