The second album from The Phase Problem is superb. Largely, it compares with the current now of rocked up Power Pop. What's more it is on the excellent Cardiff label, Brassneck Records, and the whole thing is blowing out the water all of the UK being a musical wasteland arguments.
I'm not gonna get on my defence of Pop Punk box, but the genre suffers the same as another love of mine, Prog. The genres are obviously very different. But just as Prog gives the avoiders the notion of terminal solos and the flute, Pop Punk gives the impression of robotic talky vocals and songs at 100mph.
It would be a shame to label The Phase Problem as Pop Punk, even if that is the participants background is such, because The Power Of Positive Thinking has little of what the non followers would think the genre is. This is melodic catchy Guitar Pop of the highest order.
It is wonderfully noisy without ever getting shouty. There are all also departures such as the Hey Hey Let's Go of Demon Girl, the heavier Indie Rock of Fork In The Road with its blistering Guitar Solo and the UK 70s Punk of Middle Aged Lobotomy.
Indeed, at times there is a real 70s feel, very New Wave Guitar band and the better Punk bands who could hold a tune and play their instruments. Fallen Apart and Broken Word are fine examples of this. There's also an affinity with the States the odd time, especially Denouement.
The band can also get anthemic on the likes of Shadow Of Me and the excellent Heart On My Sleeve. They only come up for air on the closer, It's True and that still rocks out after the verse and may yet be the song that opens many more deserved doors. Absolutely Splendid!
You can listen to the album here. You can buy the album here, here or here.
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