THINK LIKE A KEY MUSIC

Decades after making waves with gritty NYC new wavers The Shirts, Arthur Lamonica proves he's still got the hooks on Rome 56's infectious new outing Paradise Is Free. Recorded between New York and Amsterdam with his wife and longtime co-pilot Kathleen, this effortlessly catchy album shows Lamonica remains a master of fusing power pop, new wave and roots rock into retro-modern gold. Paradise Is Free taps into Lamonica's talented transatlantic musicians, enlisting their musical muscle across the albums twelve tracks. Anchored in ambiguity, the punchy "The Man Behind the Man With a Gun" sets an intrigued tone as it gives way to the roots-rock jangle of "Hustle of the Crowd" and the classic rock swagger of "Invisible Man." Throughout it all, Lamonica flexes his versatility while staying true to his knack for sticky songcraft, adding another catchy chapter to his bands enduring songbook.