Early new wave rumblings from below the Mason-Dixon line: Richmond, Virginia’s SBT filled their independent 12-inch with four energetic, two-minute Yardbirds/Kinks-influenced pop songs. Unfortunately, they run between four and six minutes each. The band’s combination of power and finesse is impressive, though, as is their sense of humor on the best track, “Rocker’s Night Out (Punk for a Day)” — they just lacked a good editor. Although it sounds pretty mainstream now, consider the time and place.
SBT subsequently got a track on the 1980 Sharp Cuts compilation; their persistence finally paid off by landing a deal with the CBS-affiliated Nemperor label. Their debut album, released at the end of 1982, is crisp power pop with strong vocals and precise playing. Nothing new, but pleasant enough.