POPLAR MUSIC

I must admit to having a real soft spot for this group. Their musical influences and ideas really appeal to me and I believe they have huge potential. This is their second album and the band have deliberately gone for a more 'poppy' than progressive sound with this album. According to the band, they are going to release another, more progressively-oriented album later this year.

With the clear influence of the Beatles and ELO as well as a little twist of their own whimsy, the album flows along with catchy hooks and vocal melodies. It doesn't have the same avant garde approach or nostalgic feel of the first album 21st Century Junk, but it has a purposeful and simple songwriting approach that reveals a real flair for melody. There is a sense of experimentation in simple songwriting here, a flexing of musical muscles that are still developing.

I do think that some of the tracks are a little under-developed and could have possibly been fleshed out a bit, but short but wonderful tracks such as 'And Forever' and 'Blue Halos' really show the huge potential of this band. I just wish someone would put them in a bigger and better studio and allow them to get a bit more depth in their production. Some kind of orchestral backing and a little more emphasis on the drums would really ramp things up. Its a good album and worth adding to the collection. Keep an eye on this group. I believe in them!