The Cle Elum and The Yum Yums

The Cle Elum

The Cle Elum “It’s Ok If It Falls Apart”

Tennessee band The Cle Elum is the duo of Sarah Sargent Pepper and Ian Lee. Stylistically, it is all over the place, but it’s got some great songs here. The opener, “Handclaps & Harmonies” is a perfect rocker for fans who don’t trust the singer and “don’t care what the words mean.” The style and tone change to Elvis Costello for “…Remember When,” and then 80s-styled rock on the memorable “I am a Robot” with singer Matthew Caws.

“Old Folks” is another quality tune that gives great advice with a hook. It does best with the layered arrangements and synth melody on “Did I Get High” and the Tom Petty-esque “I Wanted To Sleep.” While not every song here maintains the quality, there are enough worthy songs to rate this album highly recommended.

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The Yum Yums

The Yum Yums “Poppin’ Up Again”

Norwegian band The Yum Yums is likely one of the most underrated power pop bands playing today. Next to Japan’s Shonen Knife, I can’t think of another band that does buzzy, Ramones-derived pop better. But more than applying the hook-filled three-chord aesthetic, the Yum Yums approach their music with a dynamite sense of melody, harmonies, and bubblegum sweetness those boys in black leather never had.

Poppin’ Up Again continues a great run of albums since 1993, led by Morten Henriksen. The first three songs stick closest to the Ramones template; “Vitamin U,” “Got Me Good,” and “Do You Like Me” are brilliant high-energy pop. The band adds Beach Boy-styled harmonies on “Baby Doll,” and many tunes have an old-fashioned innocence (like “Dance,” “Candy”) with a sincere sentiment, and buzzing guitars. It’s hard to find a single bad track here, although “Foxy” sounds a little too much like Rum Bar Records labelmate Brad Marino. But despite that, this album is highly recommended and added to my Top Ten list for 2024.

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Tom Curless & the 46% and The Yum Yums

Tom Curless & the 46%

Tom Curless & the 46% “Almost Ready for the Future”

Michigan indie musician Tom Curless and his new band the 46% put in 100% effort into this sophomore album. Starting with the garage style of “Always In Between,” it encourages you to turn up the volume. Next, “House on Fire” shows more polish, and its the best album’s song. “I Just Wanna Talk” is a narrative tune with nods to The Cars in the chorus. The more rocking efforts “Fall Like Dominos” and “Unexpected Knock” have an early ’80s vibe, while “Ride Along Wave” recall peak Greg Khin. Overall a very fine album that deserves to be heard.

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The Yum Yums

The Yum Yums “For Those About To Pop!”

If you put power pop, punk, glam, and bubblegum in a blender then Norway’s The Yum Yums would be the result. They are a shoutout to The Ramones, The Beat, and similar bands, and the title track explains it quite nicely; “you’ll always have a friend in your three-chord pop songs.”

The perfectly simple punk song structures of “Baby Baby,” are contrasted by candy-coated chords and harmonies of “She’s Got Everything.” Every song hits the right notes on boy-girl romance. And at two-minutes plus the songs are all short, but still sweet. While stylistically consistent, the sameness of the songs can make things a little predictable. However, they will throw you a curveball like the doo-wop chorus on “Say You’ll Be Mine,” or a sunny pop chorus in “The Kind of Girl.” The terrific riffs and solid hooks still make this an easy choice: Highly Recommended.

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