Over the years, power pop has been a valuable part of everything from British Invasion rock (
the Beatles
) to pop-metal (
Sweet
,
Cheap Trick
), to new wave (
Blondie
the Go-Go's
Nick Gilder
), and punk (
Generation X
the Dickies
). And thankfully, power pop has continued in the alternative rock era with
Oasis
Eve's Plum
No Doubt
Hope 7
Veruca Salt
, and quite a few other hooky bands. Alternative power pop bands of the '90s and early 2000s have often had female singers, but some of the best alternative power pop outfits have had all-male lineups --
and
Jimmy Eat World
, for example -- and an all-male lineup works well for
Last November
on their second album,
Over the Top or Under the Weather
. Some people might take a look at the Atlanta-based quartet's boyish publicity photos and assume that this 44-minute CD is emo, but
is far from an emo band. Emo is endlessly introspective, and
isn't a terribly introspective album. Nor is it an album that wallows in anxiety, which is a prime ingredient of emo. This
Steven Haigler
-produced disc has its melancholy moments, but much of the time,
project a healthy sense of fun, and they have no problem delivering the hooks on infectious tracks like
"Hot and Cold,"
"Uppers, Downers, and All-Arounders,"
"Butter Me Up,"
"The Bumper Sticker Song."
also has a sense of humor; one of the songs is titled
"Jesus Had Breakfast in Bed."
isn't groundbreaking, but it's a solid and memorable reminder of how appealing a combination alternative pop/rock and power pop can be. ~ Alex Henderson