It's no exaggeration to say that I've been waiting for this album for three years, ever since that debut mini album Bipolar Love. I hold Greg Ieronimo with the same esteem that I do Jason Falkner and Matthew Sweet. He's better at Pop than Sweet and writes better choruses than Falkner.
April is way too early to talk about albums of the year, but Never Leaving California is up there already, the three years wait has not ended in any disappointment whatsoever. With 14 songs, it's as though he's been ensuring that the wait has been worthwhile.
The 14 songs showcase just how varied his material is. From the Weezer of Wasted, the moodiness of Make It Out to the Psych Pop of High Up Here. Beautiful Disaster is all harmony, it might just get picked up by a boy band.
Ieronimo is at his best when he rocks a bit more though. Rewind is a cracking opener, very Cotton Mather. You Love Me is jaunty Summer Pop, a stormer of a song. reminiscent of a 70's TV Show Theme, Outta Sight is so Fountains Of Wayne. King Terrible is almost Grunge.
I just can't find a chink in the album. It's a splendid affair and in Best Day Of Our Life, we may also have the best song of the year. I can't recommend Never Leaving California enough, every one of the 51 minutes counts.
This is one of those albums that you will be telling everyone about. You'll be willing it on to sell and sell and sell. There's been some fantastic Power Pop releases in the past couple of weeks. This is without doubt the best. Let's not make it one of those albums that we talk about in a decade with an incredulous look that it didn't sell more.
This is why I love Power Pop. You can listen to and buy the album here.
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