John Reis has never been a one-trick pony. Whether it was an early-'90s stint pulling double duty in Rocket From the Crypt and Drive Like Jehu (who disbanded in 1995), or the more recent three-headed monster composed of RFTC, the Hot Snakes and the Sultans, San Diego's favorite son has always treated fans to a smorgasbord of music. But that ended in 2005, when the singer/guitarist dismantled RFTC and the Hot Snakes. Two years later, the Sultans also folded, and we were left with nothing.
Reis' departure from music caused a collective gasp among fans, but these diehards finally have reason to exhale thanks to the release of See You in Magic, a 13-track disc by his latest group, the Night Marchers. The album borrows elements from Reis' past while transitioning into new territory. The Night Marchers blend the pop sensibilities of the Sultans' criminally neglected Shipwrecked with the hard-charging chaos of the Hot Snakes' critically praised Suicide Invoice for a jangly, hook-laden record with just enough dissonance to please all Reis fans. For those who haven't followed his every move, that means lots of sing-alongs, downstrummed guitars and pulsating rhythms.
The first six tracks abound with Reis' trademark barn-burning “oh-oh-ooh”s. “Closed for Inventory” and “In Dead Sleep (I Snore ZZZZ)” exemplify Magic, as they benefit from the overlapping of Reis and guitarist Gar Wood, while “You've Got Nerve” hints at a rarely heard softer side that features a haunting backup vocal.
Much of Magic sounds like material that, with some tweaking, could have fit into Reis' previous bands' catalogs, but the record's final two songs, “Panther in Crime” and “We're Goin' Down,” are straight-up staccato pop tunes begging for commercial radio play. Will that happen? Probably not, but that's the fault of the suits who run the airwaves, not the Night Marchers.
