As one-third of Birmingham, England, outfit Bentley Rhythm Ace, Fuzz Townshend was once on the Skint and Astralwerks labels, creating a party-rocking sound much in line with their famous former labelmate Fatboy Slim. His solo take is decidedly more in line with the modern-rock sounds gaining popularity all over the world (the Hives, the Vines, the Strokes), yet still retaining the cheeky wit and sensibility of a long-time raver and 24-hour party person with club-friendly beats. Townshend seems equally at home with buzzing electric guitars or the solitary click of a stripped-down drum machine rhythm, lending his modest-yet-pleasing working-class vocals to each setting. And his lyrical sense of humor allows him to sing “Darling, I Love You” only moments before declaring, “We’re all crazy gun-toting [expletive deleted]” on “Trigger Happy.” Silly without being pretentious, charming without laying it on too thick, and humble with a hint of fabulousness.—TP
