If you check the candy trends of 2025, TikTok and YouTube will tell you that wax candy, crystal candy, vegan gummies, and spicy candy are all the rage. That may change quickly, though, because Trevor Blendour just dropped his new 14-song LP Breaking Up With, and broken hearts rarely sound this sweet and contagious.

Blendour blends ‘50s rock ’n’ roll romanticism with pop-punk angst and power pop sensibilities, without fully fitting into any of those categories. Too fast for one, too bubblegummy for another, he’s an outsider with mainstream appeal — if only listeners could put down the glowing rectangles in their hands long enough to open their hearts (and ears) to the sheer joy of catchy, high-energy songs packed with harmonies.

Compared to 2022’s Falling in Love, this record is more varied. I Don’t Wanna Rock tips into ska territory with horns and keyboards that may divide opinion. Personally, I’m partial to the sweet harmonies of Fall in Love Again, the sunshine power pop of Dreams Really Come True, and the punchy pop-punk of She’s Still My Baby (think early Green Day at their poppiest), Can’t Get Over You, Repulsive (83 seconds of ’90s-tinged melodic punk rock), and Boring Guy.

It all closes with A Little Bit of Love (and a Lot of Heartache Too) — the most concise and complete explanation Blendour could give for this record.

Ad0d to wantlist: streaming only, not yet on Bandcamp