I quickly became infatuated with Space Jaguar’s 2025 album If You Play Expect To Pay, which played like a love letter to ’90s power pop. The follow-up arrives quick, comprised of six new originals and a cover of Freedy Johnston’s 1994 track Bad Reputation. Space Jaguar aren’t reinventing the wheel here, but when the wheel runs this smoothly, why would they?

The EP is another success for the outfit fronted by Mark Grassick, together with Andrew Taylor (Dropkick, The Boys With The Perpetual Nervousness) on drums and guitar and Michael Wood (Whoa Melodic) on bass. Expect jangly guitar pop that sounds warm and cozy, clean and harmonious, but rocking as well, bringing the power to the band’s pop. The trio of A Bright Future, She Goes, and You Won’t Drift Away is particularly likeable, each one a reminder that Space Jaguar have mastered the art of making their music sound effortless yet endlessly playable.

CD out now on Subjangle.

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