Chicago’s Push Puppets are a pop rock band who think a little bigger than most. There are moments during their second album ‘Tethered Together’ that hark back to the alternative boom of the 90s, moments that celebrate power pop, and there’s even a touch of melodic prog within some of the guitar work. It’s to main man Erich Specht’s credit that he has the creative vision to make everything fit together so well, but since he’s given sole credit for writing the songs and creating the album’s string arrangements, alongside being the band’s vocalist and guitarist, and being the co-producer of this record, he obviously has a very clear understanding of the direction he wishes the music to take, despite everything being drawn from different influences. What this creates, of course, is the kind of album that encourages its audience to listen closely.
A track chosen as a pre-release single, ‘All Together On 3’ shows off Erich’s approach with multi-layered arrangements very effectively. A string-led intro suggests Beatle-esque pop, before a melodic indie rock groove throws the listener head first into something that sounds like a 90s flashback with a hint of the more melodic aspects of Collective Soul. Then, once everything seems settled, a slightly rockier hook pushes the guitar to the fore. In relation to the music, the chorus is a little underwhelming, since it does nothing more than repeat the title, but the band makes up for this by filling the middle of the song with a huge swooning alt-pop melody that focuses a little more on the orchestrated elements, and those sound superb when presented under a flowing vocal. Underwhelming hook or otherwise, repeated listens certainly uncover a performance that sounds better over time. With a prominent acoustic guitar and some great harmonies, ‘Probably’ offers something a little more easy listening. Listen a little more closely, though, and a number that at first seemed as if it might be rather ordinary springs into life with the help of Erich’s complex approach. Beneath the smoother elements, a bassline dances back and forth, fleshing out the sound whilst calling back to some of Andy Partridge’s quirkier moods, handclaps augmenting the rhythm tip the hat to Jellyfish, and a brilliantly orchestrated string section help a huge melody to soar. Simply put, this is brilliant pop for an adult ear.
Taking more of a “fun” stance, ‘Shake It Like You Mean It’ kicks off with a heady drum rhythm that’s adjacent to the British baggy scene circa 1990, and this provides a great base for a spiky arrangement where piano lines echo the Latin influenced sounds from a busy Saturday night in Brixon Nando’s, a jazz-tinged lead guitar adds a different kind of retro feel, and a few rocky rhythms and grandiose strings lean further into Push Puppets’ sophisticated pop rock sound. Again, a lesser arranger might have used some of these elements and influences in different tracks, but Specht holds everything together with a light vocal, and the track works brilliantly.
In contrast, the Toad The Wet Sprocket-esque ‘Hearts Are Fragile’ – sequenced immediately afterwards – sounds a little ordinary by comparison. However, its lilting melody, tinged with a light reggae rhythm and smooth vocals create something rather lovely. The combination of perfect vocal and dancing piano riff really captures a melodic ear at work, before ‘The Logical Conclusion’ – a much darker piece driven by echoing guitar parts and deep bass grooves – changes the mood yet again. Upon reaching the chorus, though, a soaring melody and yet more strings help to bring everything a little further in line with the rest of the album. This certainly won’t be an immediate hit with some listeners, but the musicianship is incredibly tight throughout, and over time, the chorus will allow its charms to shine. As with some of this album’s best tracks, the strings are terrific, but in a slight change of mood, its a great guitar solo that steals the show, firstly with a high toned and very confident sound, and then by bringing in an unexpected twin lead, offering something rather more retro than most of the band’s work.
Another standout, ‘This Whole Endeavor’ opens with a bright and breezy piano riff that calls out with a bell-like sound which, after being augmented with synthy bleeps, veers towards the retro. These new wave inspired elements quickly give way for some great guitar driven pop, where jangling riffs and smooth vocals come together brilliantly. Realising he has an effective hook in hand, Erich brings the keys back for the chorus, before allowing the track to drift off into a slow, almost psychedelic middle eight. Returning to the more focused pop, the melody is offset by a slew of weird synth sounds, before finally sounding like a radio friendly staple from the 90s. There are slithers of melody that hark back to Matchbox Twenty’s second album – the underrated ‘Mad Season’ – but an already familiar sounding voice provides a strong link with the Push Puppets’ other material.
Elsewhere, the blend ofwoozy brass and strings that underscores ‘Hearts Aren’t Souvenirs’ sounds wonderful and he track’s contrast of chunky rhythm guitar and flowing orchestration shows off this album’s multi-faceted approach with ease. Even though there are moments here that occasionally sound like Push Puppets might have taken a couple of cues from a retro-minded Britpop band – something that feels rather pointed when a strident lead guitar and strings appear to take their cue from an Ocean Colour Scene deep cut or two – a fleeting moment of mellotron and another great vocal almost steal the show.
There are some great songs to be found on ‘Tethered Together’, but there’s one number that just keeps giving. Although the chosen vocal might not sit entirely comfortably against the pulsing keys during the intro of ‘Launching A Satellite’, and the first few bars certainly have the potential to leave the audience a little uncertain of what lies ahead, once it finds its feet, the number is an absolute gem. The pulsing keys have already signified this isn’t a straight up pop-rocker, but the bolder melodies that fill the chorus and the chiming guitars that bolster a great sound feel as if they’re unexpectedly leaning into classic 90s prog. Somewhere around the end of that first chorus, the ear is drawn further into a great sound blending radio friendly adult pop and proggy flourishes, and the mix of shimmering guitars and harmony vocals sounds genuinely wonderful. Any hint of prog is ultimately amplified by the instrumental parts of the track showcasing some great lead guitar, and when the elements come together to create a great finish with a countermelody that sounds as if it were written for strings, it eventually becomes the kind of track that begs to be heard again and again. For lovers of John Mitchell and Frost* looking to get their ears around something a little different, this is definitely worth a listen. If it inspires the listener to delve a little further into the Push Puppets’ world, then its work is done.
Moving effortlessly between pop-rock tunes, a couple of rockier numbers and some heavily orchestrated fare, this is a collection of songs that’s varied enough to surprise on first listen, but retains enough focus to ensure that subsequent listens allow most of the songs to stick. ‘Tethered Together’ can be cherry picked according to mood, and it’s worth the asking price for ‘Launching A Sattelite’, ‘Probably’ and ‘This Whole Endeavor’, but it’s actually a filler free disc that sounds better over time. For the pop-rock fan with a discerning ear, this album could become a genuine favourite.
July 2025