The 80's were an era in which artists found their identity and drove it off the cliffs. Sock-stuffin' cock-rockers in acid-wash jeans, prom queen anthems written by girls with ghastly large earrings and spiky-haired keyboard players are all results of the widespread “something to prove” epidemic.

By the mid-90's, it seemed like the entire preceding decade would become merely a historical retelling and perhaps nostalgic for those who wore the trend as much in their hearts as on their bodies. The teen-angst of grunge flooded the radios and the realization that musicians were everyday people was public. But as time has surprised us before, a part of the 80's did return, after the 90's. Tight jeans, pompous hairstyles, and rock's acceptance for keyboards returned in alternative ways, spawning an entirely different culture.

Flying Venus are not of this proverbially remixed culture. Jean Mazzei's band fits in more wholeheartedly with bands of the 80's then those of today. In fact, so close is the resemblance that she would have had to be present for much of the era to even create such an endeavored project. Mazzei sums it concisely by stating that the album is “inspired by the days of vinyl when life ran at 33 1/3 instead of 44K,” which is true on a musical and social level.

The gamut of retro pop and rock is fully covered on this 3rd album. Pop, rock, punk and new wave all toss each other around in a playful bout, making each song a separate identity. Some of the more contemporary tracks like “Long Road To Memphis,” “Playground” and “Face Of A Nation” settle for acoustic guitars over the distorted power-chords and more serious proportions, but most of the album is written with fun in mind, doing what it can to stay playful. The keyboard handles that side of the album by and large, showing off a few solos and riffs. Lyrically, 'Face Of A Nation' puts to song stories of various people in society; the musician, the lover, the high-school kid, the runaway, and the addict. “Face Of A Nation” and “American Nightmare” even question the state of American government and society, but are a little too timid to offer an answer, much less point a finger.

It's clear that the inspiration for this album is pure, but the execution is flawed. The band is compiled of what seems like very different people without a connection, and the recorded result ends up sounding like it, the instruments not rolling together as well as they should. Specifically, the transitions within songs are abrupt and burred. The keyboard is relentless and becomes too much after a few listens, especially when listening through the entire album. As this album is more or less geared toward the nostalgia of a past era, few young people are gonna enjoy or even understand the music. While a band like The Pipettes are topping UK charts with similarly influenced music, it's because it has been fused with a hipper pop element and contains much more energy. Flying Venus and 'Face Of A Nation' were created for the 80's, and it's success is ultimately stuck there.