It has been nine years since The Real Numbers' third album, but that wasn't the plan. The San Franciscan quartet had began recording the follow up until the recordings were lost due to a hard drive failure. That and life events meant that 8 years later, a fourth album finally appears.
You can read the full story on the band's website here. It is a wonderfully arranged Pop Rock affair that treads into Power Pop, 60s Sunshine Pop, the 90s revival of Guitar Pop and also the 70s golden era of Pop Rock. Indeed, the cover of Andrew Gold's Thank You For Being A Friend is apt as it fits beautifully with what the band are about.
It is the melody and the versatility that makes this album special. The songs instrumentally are very jaunty, upbeat, jolly if you like. There is a real positivity lyrically and that suits the arrangements and performances. There are also special guests which will delight followers and they aren't here for the ride.
The best song is probably Lydia Pinkham, an absolute rollercoaster of a song that has Roger Joseph Manning Jr on keyboards and his Pump Organ part is simply awesome. The Jellyfish connection doesn't end there with Tim Smith playing Bass on Lucy's In Love.
There are some splendid Brass arrangements too, particularly on the excellent singalong Sunshine Pop of You, Me And The Sunshine and the more New Wave Revue style on Lucy's In Love. Sorry For The Mess is more 90s, very Barenaked Ladies.
News Of The Day is very 70s UK Pop Rock of the highest order and Hello World gets all West Coast Rock. All this jauntiness is ended with the magnificent brooding closer, Souvenirs with the jaw dropping string arrangement. All in All, a really special album. I do hope it isn't the band's last.
The album is currently available as a Name Your Price here. The album will be getting a physical release on Kool Kat next month and I will update details of that here when I have them.
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