If ever a band got closest to what I revel in, it is Columbus Ohio's Smug Brothers. An outstanding career has been noted by an ability to stretch Power Pop into a slightly noisier brand of Power Pop that could edge towards Garage Rock at times.
But there is something a little different at times here. Those edges are much smoother and have allowed great Jangle Pop to enter the fray and it suits them very well. There is still an ability to demonstrate why Power Pop can be be so engaging when it steps away from the ordinary general template.
They have always been great at Psych Pop and there is plenty of that here too, essentially a cross of splendid 60s fairy and the more modern take from the 90s. It works beautifully and the album crosses genres with ease.
At times this is rifforama with hooks that grab you drenched in melodic wonder. The songs themselves are generally say what you wanna say and move on, but then there is an exception in the stellar, longer What Starts Out As Fun which is Psych drenched and very Orgone Box at times.
But there is also beauty here and a song like Let Me Know When It's Yes is awesome Jangle Pop and it suits them very well. Helium Drag even gets pretty close to Brit Pop and again masters it. A song that could be their most straight ahead offering such as Sudden Berlin is taken much further instrumentally.
There is a gentle side here too, An Age In An Instant in particular. But I'm also reminded of earlier Cotton Mather at times, particularly on Enceladus Lexicon. In all a slightly different, more evolving album from Smug Brothers emerges and it is absolutely wonderful. Absolutely Top Notch.
You can listen to and buy the album here. You really really should give it a go.
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