On their debut album, The Chelsea Curve pulled together the best bits of power pop, punk, mod, and rock ‘n’ soul into something genuinely special. The Boston trio of Linda Pardee, Tim Gillis, and Ron Belanger return with The Rideout, a seven-song EP on Rum Bar Records that hits just as hard.

There’s a strong ’80s glow running through The Rideout, built on revved-up guitars and sweet, punchy melodies. These are songs about freedom and finding your people, about being part of something bigger without overthinking it.

The band spells it out on Rally Round, arguably the most overt pop moment here and a clear standout: “Count your friends. Count your brothers. Keep ’em close. Cut loose the others. Find your people now.”

It’s direct, perhaps a little cheesy on paper, but it lands. The Chelsea Curve lean into it, tossing in a “yeah, yeah, yeah!” here and a “wooheeeooooo” there without a hint of irony, which only makes the whole thing more endearing. It’s proof that sincerity still hits harder than cynicism when the songs are this good.

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