Isolation Party
As a keeper of the '60s pop rock flame during the synth-pop days of the 1980s, Tommy Keene put the non-existent Washington, D.C. power pop scene on the map with a series of EPs and eventually several albums for a major label. Years later, now recording for the reputable indie label Matador, Keene is still sticking to bright, chiming guitars and quick, catchy tunes. Though no single cut stands out as the obvious "hit," the cumulative assemblage of tracks such as "Long Time Missing," "Getting Out from Under You," and "The World Outside" make for an extremely pleasurable trip down power-pop lane.--Rob O'Connor