Zeus: The Sound Of '70s Rock Radio, Reborn

Derek Branscombe

It's got a vintage feel, but Zeus' "Are You Gonna Waste My Time" is miles away from seeming tired.

The Canadian rock band Zeus is about to release its second album, Busting Visions, and the first single couldn't be more reminiscent of a hot summer in the 1970s. "Are You Gonna Waste My Time" doesn't just relive that decade musically, though. The recoding has a round analog sound — it's so warm and saturated that even hearing a digital stream of the track sounds like tuning into an AM radio station.

Zeus has nostalgia in its corner, but the band doesn't slouch on songwriting. The words to "Are You Gonna Waste My Time" speak of love, but it's with someone who can't decide whether to love back. The hook sums the narrative up perfectly, facing the indecisiveness with muscular, Big Star-sized guitar riffs.

The song itself is catchy, but Zeus' secret weapon lies in the detailed production. Faint acoustic-guitar strums, jubilantly layered guitar leads and a saloon-style piano all bring this music a lot of playful flavors, complete with cowbell. It's a vintage sound, but "Are You Gonna Waste My Time" is miles away from sounding tired or worn out. There's no dust in these grooves.