Wait, what? Yet another essential power pop LP hitting the market? Let me see\u2026 Dandy Boy and Bachelor Records teaming up to release the first LP by Softjaw, a Long Beach supergroup comprised of Tanner Duffy (Justus Proffit, Hilary Chilton), Dustin Lovelis (The Fling), Vinny Earley (Vaguess, Diode) and Daniel Michicoff (Tijuana Panthers)? I will take one, please.<\/p>\n
Sure, I am aware this is technically not new material. The LP collects the band\u2019s digital EPs<\/a> and singles. But my gratitude for finally having these songs on vinyl outweighs any desire for new material right now. That said, I would not mind more of this sooner rather than later.<\/p>\n Softjaw have moonlighted as one of Paul Collins\u2019 backing bands, but listening to songs like these, their own material easily rivals some of the best power pop bands of today, like The Whiffs, and of yesteryear. They even take on The Nerves\u2019\u00a0Working Too Hard <\/em>(one of our favorite covers of the month<\/a>), alongside a cover of\u00a0Playing Bogart<\/em>\u00a0by 23 Jewels.<\/p>\n Clearly, this Long Beach band know their Big Star, their Cheap Trick, their Teenage Fanclub, their Exploding Hearts, and their poppy punk rock classics. But knowing the greats is one thing. Writing songs that live up to that legacy is something else entirely. As this LP shows, Softjaw can do both.<\/p>\n