Catholic School [CD]

Drawing inspiration from sources as disparate as 1970s Philly nightlife folklore and Denis Johnson’s The Incognito Lounge, Joey Sweeney & The Neon Grease have dug deep to present a living micro-history of redemption amidst sleaze. One their new LP Catholic School, chiming 80s 12-string guitars, classic rock sax solos and rainy bedroom Velvet Underground listening sessions all blend together. In these songs are little stories of triumph over dirty circumstance and grace under pressure, with the friendship of an urban family “street band”woven throughout. They’re little tales of hard-won glory. In “Baptized in Vibe,” Sweeney sings, “Everybody except me knew I would survive.”