John Lefler spent the last seven years playing guitar/keys in the band Dashboard Confessional. But with a handful of friends somehow had time to create this finely crafted pop album. The album gets off to great start with “Dream Your Life Away” which has flowing melody lines and pounding piano similar to Sun Sawed In Half and Jellyfish. The title track follows with an ELO-styled bridge and it’s steady beat will automatically put a little bounce in your step. “Lucy” is transitional song that leans toward a softer styled jangle pop. The rest of the album can’t quite keep up with those superb opening tracks, but the mid tempo “Afraid Anymore” and the excellent piano guitar interplay of “Hard Act To Follow” will hold your interest for sure. The latter album tracks “Start Me Over” and “Helplessly” remind me of The Rembrandts (okay, maybe Danny Wilde solo). But the album does not lose it’s footing, and gives us a Rooney-esque guitar and melody on “Better Than You” which leads us to the punchy “Ordinary Guy.” Even the ending ballad “Up My Sleeve” has a sweet multi-dubbed harmony that recalls John Lennon. For most power pop fans, this will be more than enough to put it on their “must have” list. Overall, a great debut and I hope we hear more from Mr. Lefler in the future.
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