I missed this at the end of last year, but thankfully, the 2024 Vinyl release allows it to qualify it for this year. Kansas City's Erik Voeks is primarily noted as a solo artist, most known for the excellent Sandbox album which has just been remixed for a re-release.
His forming of a quartet with The Ghosters really produces a great Pop Rock glow. Written by all four, the Jangle Pop count is wonderfully heavy, but the move away from that genre is just as fine. A song like Hieronyous steps magnificently into intelligent Gravitas Pop.
There are hints of Elvis Costello on the verse of The Most Confusing Part which is accompanied by a stellar arrangement with added top notch Guitar riffing. Suck It Up even gets all UK Glam Rock at times and adds a killer chorus. Yet more Intelligent Guitar Pop.
Slowness Of The Moment is ace 70s Pop Rock to a tee and the weeping Guitar riff on Break Away is awesome. Instrumentally, it is more than a little XTC. There's even a potential Sitcom Theme Song in the jaunty altogether now-ness of Love You Anyway.
It Means Nothing Now has an hypnotic Jangle and yet Hazy Maze mixes UK New Wave with US 60s Sunshine Pop. The whole album is a joy, beautifully performed and lyrically adept throughout. The big reveal is how uplifting Pop Rock can be.
You can listen to and buy the album here. It is available on Vinyl, CD and as a download.
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Would have been a contender for my 2023 Top 10 if it hadn't come out so late in the year.
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