The world's fourth-largest megalopolis with over 18 million souls, and more arriving everyday. A stressful maze of massive skyscrapers, kilometric avenues, and relentless chaos. The production here is clear, muscular, and perfectly balanced. With such a powerful presence in the instrumentals, one wishes there were a little heart's blood on their embroidered sleeve. Great bands have grown from lesser beginnings.
Radio Nationals are one to watch.
I fully expected to hate this. But the second song is the first of many that have sharper hooks than my grandpa's old fishing pole. The Fountains of Wayne come to mind, but the approach here is more idiosyncratic and personal. They just need to arrange them in some order that has an engaging unity and direction. As is, they have produced maybe the chewiest disc of bubblegum I can remember rising from these parts since the Model Rockets' Hi-Lux , too damn many years ago.