Radio Days "C’est La Vie"

Radio Days are probably the best power pop band in Italy. Their 2008 EP “Midnight Cemetery Rendezvous” was a real stunner and they refined the sound and songwriting for this awesome full length release. Based in Milan, frontman Dario Persi combines the punk energy of Weezer with Beatlesque melodies and tight hook-filled choruses. “Spinning Round The Wheel” opens with breakneck speed, fans of The Knack and The Velvet Crush will connect with it immediately.  This continues with the excellent “So Far So Close” chock full of impressive chord shifts and guitar riffs. The Weezer-like “Sleep It Off” makes listening to this collection of songs a true power pop pleasure. The first three songs are so great, the other tracks have a tougher time sticking, but they are by no means filler. “Elizabeth” has a Raspberries feel to it and “The Meaning Of Fire” has an easy listening style that grows on you pretty quickly, but no slow ballads are part of this album. The sound of the tracks tend to get homogenous, but that’s the only fault I can find here.  Another highlight “Sweetest Lullaby” starts with a fantastic jangling intro, it’s a mid tempo guitar gem about looking back on past experiences that really resonates.