Theo Meyer and his band comfortably crank out infectious power pop full of crunchy riffs, handclaps and shaking tambourines. From the opening introduction to the blistering “Permission To Rock You” takes its cues from Cheap Trick, Splitsville and The Posies. It also helps that the debut was recorded and mixed by Kurt Reil of the Grip Weeds. The vintage chords flow freely on “Get To You” and it effortlessly segues into a quiet break, then builds back up. The tracks have a relentless energy, and “Immaculate Mansions” has a touch of the Grip Weeds sixties-centricity in its DNA, with a terrific rhythm and guitar solo.
A good description of the bands method is in the opening lines of “Tour of Japan” where Meyer intones “We’ve been down in the basement for over a year/writing teenage symphonies that no one will hear…” The rock and roll dreams are so honestly portrayed, its hard not to join in with air guitar yourself. Meyers nasal vocal fits the driving energy of songs pretty well, but unfortunately the two part harmonies on the well written “Indecision & Inertia” aren’t quite up to par. Aside from that, this is a wonderful debut that sure to win over fans. It’s already won over IPO‘s David Bash who called them “a great power pop band…” I totally agree and highly recommend this album.
