Rumbar Records are on a real roll at the moment. In the past they have had a slightly unfair reputation for noisy down and dirty Garage Rock. That's never really been the case and whereas the were regular melodic gems, lately they have been appearing more and more.
These six songs from Delaware County, Pennsylvania quartet The Jive are great Power Pop. You might expect some American influence and there is, but this sounds much more like the Power Pop that came out of the UK's New Wave, It does sound very 1979.
Why is the one exception, sounding more that the joyous 80s American Guitar Pop from the likes of The Plimsouls. The youthful me never really got Punk at the time, bizarrely following a time when we were listening to Prog albums, but the New Wave that broke away from it changed my life. Although I move around a lot, it is still that time that influences my writing most.
This is glorious. Good Time Call is possibly the song of the year, revealing all that is great about the genre, all riffs and killer chorus. Sherry Shakes is a little noisier, but works just as well and has a chorus and rhythm section to die for, with the compulsory ace solo.
The Song You Can't Forget is another anthem, very Stiff Records, but a bigger production. Shoulda Known Better is a great example of what that New Wave did. A rhythm reminder of The Jam in their earlier days, but far more melodic and less angry.
Heart Of Gold is built around a gripping riff and edges towards UK Glam Rock, a bit Chinn and Chapman. All in All, Extended Play is a reminder of how glorious Power Pop is when it avoids the mediocre and this certainly does that. What a splendid listen!
You can listen and buy the EP here. It is available on CD and as a download.
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