Los Angeles quartet Dear Boy may have just signalled the return of Brit Pop, Not the show off magpie headliners, but the great Pop Rock that lay underneath in spades. We have always identified with that wave and it is probably why the new Supernaturals album has spent so long in our Top 10 most viewed reviews in the past few months.
The genre marked a return to Guitar bands selling out venues and the live scene was revived, particularly here in the North West. It was all about melody, memorable choruses and killer choruses and there is loads of that here on Dear Boy's second album.
There are wall to wall anthems that are beautifully produced and arranged. Songs that you can't help singing along to. But the band aren't afraid to branch out. For instance, Kelly Green sounds wonderfully Madchester, a little Weatherall dancey. The title track follows a similar direction.
The Address goes even further back to the post C86 years and again shows the versatility of the four, the song is all beats. There is even a nod to the big album closer noted in Brit Pop songs with the mesmerising Daylight Savings.
But for all these inventive departures, it is the Pop Rock that grabs you the most. Now More Than Ever rips in with a big Guitar solo, a cracking song that you will hear on next week's Listening To This Week, a submission that led me to the album.
Wanderlow eases in with a slight Lightning Seeds vibe After All reminds me of the unsung Brit Pop bands such as Straw and Octopus. Inevitable is another genre joy. Dear Pop do sound very UK at times and this is a splendid example of how life affirming Pop Rock can be in the right hands.
You can listen to and buy the album here. It is available on Vinyl and as a download.
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