Energetic and radio-friendly,
Marvelous 3's strong major-label debut,
Hey! Album, shows the Atlanta band's roots in a mixture of '70s pop/rock with '90s power pop. Reminiscent of
Cheap Trick and
the Cars,
Marvelous 3 sounds like
Ben Folds Five traded their piano for lead guitar.
Hey! is a likeable, melodic album, full of self-conscious and self-deprecating lyrics bordering on preciousness. While
Butch Walker's I-wish-I-was-punk vocals are not particularly original, the album manages to salvage itself, mostly due to tight arrangements and seamless production. The lyrics and music often contradict each other, as many of the songs deal with being trapped or jilted, while the music sounds carefree and energetic: a near-perfect combination of angst and bliss. ~ Gina Boldman