photo by Trebmal Photography; photo courtesy of Knyvet

Single Reviews of The Chelsea Curve: “Jamie C’mon (Andy Lewis Remix)”/”Hey Sah-Lo-Ney,” “Kindawanna,” “Never Come Down,” and “Rally ‘Round”

The Chelsea Curve is an award-winning Boston-area rock band whose style is a Brit rock-inspired blend of hook-laden pop, alt-rock, and groove-rock, delivered with a punk-ish attitude. The band calls itself “retro mod pop,” and whatever that means, it sounds accurate. The trio that comprise The Chelsea Curve are Linda Pardee (bass, vocals), Tim Gillis (guitars, vocals), and Bruce Caporal (drums). The band released several singles in 2025, covering a lot of stylistic real estate within its corner of rock ‘n roll, all in the uniquely original style that makes the outfit such a consistent draw and an original artistic beacon on the regional music scene.

cover design by Linda Pardee; image courtesy of Knyvet

Back in May, The Chelsea Curve released the double A-side 7-inch single “Jamie C’mon (Andy Lewis Remix)” and “Hey Sah-Lo-Ney,” two energetic songs that typify what you might call swing alt-rock, combining groovy, sixties-inspired distorted guitar riffs with a more modern rock edginess. The first of the two songs, “Jamie C’mon,” was previously released as a single in 2022. This remix is rough-edged and carries its tempo forward as if attacking the listener – enjoyable, but at the same time it sort of feels unsafe not to like it. Fortunately, it’s a fun groove that starts strong and then grows stronger with each subsequent listen, so fear not.

cover design by Linda Pardee; image courtesy of Knyvet

“Hey Sah-Lo-Ney,” meanwhile, is an amped-up cover of Mickey Lee Lane’s surfin’-and-swingin’ 1965 rocker. Of course, The Chelsea Curve updates the sound and produces a cleaner, more modern-ear-friendly rendition that’s surprisingly similar to the original. Regardless, it’s a fun song with a time-warp factor, and I had never heard the original (or any of its previous covers) before, so to me, it’s just a cool new song.

cover design by Linda Pardee; image courtesy of Knyvet

In July, The Chelsea Curve released another fun, raw, swinging rocker with a more summertime theme, “Kindawanna.” It’s a fun, fast-paced, rough-edged, radio-friendly rocker that’s over so quickly, thanks in part to its breakneck speed, leaving just the lyric “Kindawanna have a bottle of Prosecco with you! Kindawanna ride around on your Lambretta with you! I Kindawanna be your everything!” I’m already looking forward to next summer when I can roll down the windows and crank this one while cruisin’ the boulevard.

The Chelsea Curve hits a similarly thumping beat on its August release, “Never Come Down.” The tempo’s just a hair slower, and the guitar swirl a bit more substantial, throwing off a strong vocal-harmony, alt-rock vibe.

cover design by Linda Pardee; image courtesy of Knyvet

The band’s fifth song released in 2025, “Rally ‘Round,” was part of The Sound Cove’s Super Sonic Showcase, Volume 1, a sampler released in October by singles-only record label The Sound Cove. “Rally ‘Round” was probably The Chelsea Curve’s poppiest 2025 release, with an updated spin on a pop-rock style that dominated the college rock scene back in the ’90s, yet again with that throwback ’60s-ish vibe. It’s a pleasant song with a rhythmic motor that keeps it moving in a moderately joyful way. Overall, the song is engaging and fun – another excellent addition to your Chelsea Curve music collection.

photo by Reuben; photo courtesy of Knyvet

Of these five songs, I think “Never Come Down” would be my favorite if only “Hey Sah-Lo-Ney” weren’t such a damn memorable earworm. Really, though, this way-too-cool Boston outfit simply treated us to four kickass singles in 2025. Yes, they released five songs, but one release was a two-sided single, so that’s four singles. Regardless, if you’re seeking cool pop-rock that’s a little edgy, check out The Chelsea Curve’s catchy collection of 2025 single releases. I hope they have some more cool tunes in store for us in 2026.

To keep up with the latest from The Chelsea Curve, see the band’s linktree.