Some songs tell you what they are within seconds, and “Sex Appeal” is one of them. Pembroke Tenneson comes charging in with a guitar-led rock track and a lead vocal full of attitude, before launching into a series of increasingly outrageous boasts.
The appeal is in the contrast. Tenneson delivers the lyrics with complete conviction, while the words themselves keep getting more absurd in the best way possible. He knows how to make the central joke last without turning every line into a punchline, and there are enough details along the way to keep the song moving.
The chorus is another reason the track sticks. The title comes back repeatedly, giving the song a clear centre, while the tambourine refrain brings a little extra colour towards the end.
Tenneson has described early-1970s rock as a key inspiration for the single, and that gives the track its classic rock feel. At the same time, the lyrics give it a distinctly modern sense of humour, so it never comes across as an attempt to recreate an old record.
There is also a bigger story behind the release. “Sex Appeal” is the first of 14 original tracks Tenneson has been working on, with the new material giving him space to showcase his versatility as a songwriter.
For now, “Sex Appeal” is a lively place to begin. It has guitars, attitude, a chorus that stays with you and plenty of personality.
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