Artist: The Night Game
Song: The Outfield
Genre: Rock, Pop
Best known for his group Boys Like Girls, which had a radio hit some years back with “The Great Escape”, lead singer-songwriter Martin Johnson has a new solo project called The Night Game, and earlier this year released his first single “The Outfield”.
The first thing that strikes me about this song is how much the pop savvy and rich backing vocals (provided by the help of the long-lost Gotye) sound like 80’s group The Outfield, on their signature hit “Your Love”. If second single “Once in a Lifetime” is an indication, then the cleanly produced pop-rock sound of that era has had a major influence on Johnson and his new outfit.
On “The Outfield”, the drums and vocals are pushed forward, especially on the stadium-sized chorus. Loose harmonics embellish the tune with faint backing vocals, creating an buoyant atmosphere. It’s a rock song that may just be pop enough to get Johnson back on the charts. Here’s hoping radio gives him a shot.
The Indy Review 