Press and Reviews for Perfect Alibi

SINGLE REVIEW: Perfect Alibi by The Proper Authorities

The Faulkner Review, 3/26/2021 [link here]

​...Perfect Alibi is an upbeat, strident pop/rock track that really showcases Keith Adams’ considerable abilities as singer, songwriter and producer…

...It takes great skill to write a first rate pop song and then huge talent to make the creative vision a reality. Adams achieves all this with consummate ease and the result is the best single I’ve yet heard this year and I’ll be surprised if there’s a better one.

The Proper Authorities Electrify In “Perfect Alibi”

Ratings Game Music, 3/26/2021 [link here]

...“Perfect Alibi” is one of those tracks that will make you feel like you are in outer space as you listen to it. It is powered by dreamy synth, electrifying guitar-play, and a tempo that will make you nod your head violently. The song also features a roaring vocal performance that will effortlessly seep through every part of your mind, body, and soul, memorable melodies, and lyrical content that will remind you how important it is to assess, grasp, and accept the downfall of a relationship that you are in that might not be as rosy as it once was.

The Proper Authorities: Perfect Alibi

Stereo Stickman, 3/26/2021 [link here]

Introducing a brilliantly crisp and warm rock sound, with soulful vocals taking a little inspiration from the likes of Prince as much so as the heavier bands of the nineties – The Proper Authorities weave a creatively melodic and conceptual web around listeners with this new single.

Emerging complete with a strangely captivating animation for a video, the song brings through the band’s unique vocal drive and organic, funky yet almost grunge-like instrumental approach in a powerful way…

Discovering the Proper Authorities

The Further, 4/7/2021 [link here]

Today we met with our best artist of April: Keith Adams AKA The Proper Authorities. He has recently released what is probably the best track of the season, an outstanding sing entitled “Perfect Alibi”.

From the first notes, we were caught in his addictive artistic recipe between pop, rock music, and touches of trip-hop vibes. With the perfect instrumentation, Keith Adam’s recognizable vocal performance, everything is set for the audience to have a beautiful musical moment.

“Perfect Alibi” is an eclectic song, the definition of a Hit, that we would have the pleasure to listen to on repeat on radios, and on stage.

The Proper Authorities has the talent to bring a new sound to the table in a crowded industry, and that’s exactly what we expect from artists today.

Listen to “Perfect Alibi” right now, and discover the artist in the 5 questions below:

Welcome to our redaction. Can you introduce yourself to our readers and tell us how you started to make music?

Hi! My name is Keith Adams, and I’m a long-time musician, multimedia artist, videographer, and more. I started out as a kid drummer and pianist and branched out into guitars in my teen years. I actually minored in music theory and composition in college, though I majored in computer systems. Both fields of study were very helpful for my music skills. Playing professionally throughout most of my 20s was also a great way to grow as a recording artist and producer.

What is your main inspiration to write music?

I appreciate both the art and science of creating and combining tone, pitch, rhythm, and intensity into pieces of drama. I like the craft of putting a sound puzzle together that can make people dance, sing along, imagine, remember, or just enjoy.

How would you describe your creative process?

I play drum beats everywhere I go, every day. If there is a table, a countertop, a desk, or even my legs, I will play random beats just for the love of it. This is how half of my songs begin. Otherwise, I’m humming bass lines or guitar riffs to go along with those beats. The words are always last, and tend to follow the tone of the instruments.

Your latest release “Perfect Alibi” is now on repeat in our playlist! We admire its versatility. Can you tell us more about it?

The idea of experiencing a false sense of security was a very interesting idea to try to capture in a song. The challenge was to illustrate the feeling of dread and vulnerability felt by someone challenging their significant other about the future of their relationship, but still give the questioner some courageous footing.

What do you plan for the future?

I am working on more Proper Authorities music for release later this year, but before then, I’m really excited about a project I am in with friends of mine. We’re called The Hynx, and we’ve been working with Terry Bickers from The House of Love on our debut EP. I’m singing and playing drums on it, and though it’s a different vibe than Proper Authorities, I think people will REALLY like it a lot.

The Proper Authorities // Perfect Alibi

Nova Music Blog, 4/11/2021 [link here]

Showcasing what was initially conceived to be a full band, Keith explains the dynamic that led him to give a solo dimension to his new act: “[The Proper Authorities] is the “band name” of my solo project, which was initially intended to be a full band. I haven’t gotten around yet to fill out the ranks, so it’s still all just me.”

As in past groups, in this new project, Adams continues to experiment extensively between the folds of pop and more modern rock, aiming to expand his vision and articulate his composition and performance skills.

Here dreamy synths, high-power guitars, and a rhythmic pulse-pounding pattern are combined with sounds and grooves not usually found around Rock. Arrangements designed to enhance the listening experience are tempered by what appears to be a genuine love for good friends, with lyrics touching on a variety of themes.

Amid matters of self, with a handful of emotional snapshots held in time, Adams glides between tragic and comic figures, bringing to the table those things that we all live or want.

Unintentionally, in describing his creative statement, we have already slipped over his latest work, “Perfect Alibi,” single accompanied by an animated video. Check it out on The Proper Authorities YouTube channel.

While the video features a cartoon version of Adams walking through a sci-fi future scape, the song develops in retrospect on an epic and sensual dimension, digging in a relationship exacerbated by increasingly visible cracks in its foundations, unraveling toward a search for a truth that already seems discovery.

“I wrote this song with the idea that we’ve all been in relationships before where we thought things were safe and cozy, but all the clues that things were about to end were hiding out in plain sight.” So Adams said about the theme of his “Perfect Alibi.” Then he went on: “I wanted there to be some drama and tension in it, but I like songs that also have a hint of fun and hope in them to balance the dread and danger.”

Drama and tension, therefore, for a Pop-Rock number in an Alternative key that also calls in Funk and Electronic elements, to distill a gall made of dread and danger, with a hint of fun and hope.

The Proper Authorities – Perfect Alibi

The Static Dive, 4/28/2021 [link here]

“Perfect Alibi” is the latest single and video from The Proper Authorities, released worldwide to all major streaming services on February 26, 2021. Rolling on an airtight bass and drum groove, the tune’s powerful slap bass thump brings to mind the iconic 90’s Alternative band Faith No More. However, if Adams hints at the past he does so while diving headfirst into the future with a cool mix of pristine production, ethereal guitars and Funk grit. Meanwhile the singer delivers a soulful and insightful look at troubled relationship.

Press and Reviews for Public Service Announcement

Listopia 2005: Top 10 Local 1 Man Wonders of '05 (by Ezra Waller)

Cincinnati CityBeat, 12-21-2005 issue [link here]

9. Determined to give Dave Grohl a run for his money, Cincy drummer Keith Adams (Giant Wow, former Sound Mind) came out of nowhere with a huge one-man Rock show dubbed The Proper Authorities. Public Service Announcement, his debut disc of heavy Progressive Pop, is scheduled for release next month.

Locals Only: Locals Disc-O-Fever (Proper Authorities review by Ezra Waller)

Cincinnati CityBeat, 6-14-2006 issue [link here]

Among the explosion of ‘one-man bands’ that technology has made possible, the usual common thread is a lo-fi sound or at the very least an intimate feel. Keith Adams is having none of that. With Public Service Announcement, the veteran of local Techno-Rock faves Sound Mind (and more recently Power Pop trio Giant Wow) has made an album that celebrates the view from his corner of the music world, which is danceable, hard-hitting, eclectic and selectively introspective. With synth-heavy grooves, unexpected key changes and a healthy dose of Rock charisma, the project is part Information Society and part ‘80s Genesis. Adams’ smooth voice has appreciable range, and his keyboard and guitar playing show off his inventiveness and compositional chops (although my one complaint with the disc is that the potential variety of guitar and bass tones and crunch aren’t fully explored). Naturally, the drumming is phenomenal; as in Adams’ other bands, he displays the metronomic precision that makes you wonder if the parts were programmed, and the tasty feel to prove they weren’t. Released in January, PSA‘s tunes have already been snatched for compilations and podcasts, and ‘The Ninth Life Jitters’ has even won some very legit songwriting awards. Taking DIY to a new level, Adams has also produced a video for the song ‘Devastate’ using the CGI skills he has honed at his multimedia design company, further illustrating that anything can happen where talent and determination intersect. Hopefully Adams will assemble a band to eventually bring this outstanding virtual project into the live realm. (Ezra Waller) Grade: B

The Proper Authorities - Public Service Announcement (Talon First Records)

The Here And There E-Zine, 9-21-2006 issue [site disabled]

​What? Another review already? I am so far behind,again….forgive me.

Maybe I’ll blame Keith Adams, aka The Proper Authorities. I put this CD on at long last and whoa, it’s tearin’ my s__t UP… this is a great album, nice crunchy rock-pop with some nice hooks, great songwriting and did you notice I only mentioned Keith Adams. Yep, Mr. Adams has pulled a Prince and wrote, played and sang this album all by his badass self.

13 solid, blistering tracks and each have a real big sound. The one band this reminds me of is the mighty Queensryche back in the ‘Empire’ days… same great pacing and is a bit conceptual. But I think TPA stands fine without any comparsions other then to say its a great table setter to the next album.

Highly recommended

The Year In Your Ear: A Look Back at the Best Locally-spawned CD Releases of 2006
(compiled by Mike Breen)

Cincinnati CityBeat, 1-3-2007 issue [link here]