The Cheap Cassettes will never be the hippest band, and they’re probably okay with that. Their logo looks like it was made using ’90s Microsoft Word Art, and their sound— an old-school blend of American power pop, rock-‘n’-roll, and garage rock — flies in the face of current musical trends. Critics might dismiss them, but like an old, pixelated ’80s video game with unbeatable gameplay, The Cheap Cassettes excel where it truly matters: songwriting.

And boy, do The Cheap Cassettes put on a songwriting clinic on their latest LP, They’ll Never Forgive You for Pop. Each track seems to nod toward a different classic influence. Opener New Gun in Town feels like a perfect mix of The Plimsouls and The Magnolias, while Everyone With You could easily be imagined as a Teenage Fanclub tune. Bad Xerox oozes the energy of a Paul Westerberg and Tom Petty collaboration, and Don’t You Want to Know channels a laid-back Stones vibe.

Though this album veers more towards rock than the power pop of their earlier releases, it’s best described as a solid, timeless American rock record. Available now on Tape/CD/LP through Rum Bar Records and Cassettes On Record Records, this one is worth cranking up.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp (Rum Bar)