After the Party
Remember your prom theme, or the song that was playing during your very first kiss, or that tune that was popular when your baby was born? Hear those songs now and you are transported back to the moments and emotions that they captured. The tracks contained on the Push Stars'After the Partyare capable of evoking those same nostalgic feelings upon first listen; the essence of this album lies in its familiarity. Tracks such as "Minnesota," "Cadillac," "Meet Me on Main Street," and "Any Little Town" could be any little songs, containing narratives of feelings we've all felt, loves we've all lost, places we've all been. The Push Stars hail from Boston, a town famous for producing edgy guitar bands like thePixiesandGalaxie 500. But unlike either of those bands, the Push Stars' music never reaches beyond the listener's comfort zone. Leader Chris Trapper is a solid if not entirely inventive songwriter, but sometimes it is nice to listen to a CD that's nothing more than instantly enjoyable.After the Partyis the perfect accompaniment to sunny days, open windows, and good moods.--Beth Massa