Power pop is arguably party music -- generally, the music tries to distill a good-time vibe into concise, smooth, three-minute nuggets of sunshine. And if power pop is party music, then
the Rooks would be the music for every classy wine and cheese party in the world. Considered by many to be one of the finest power pop bands of the '90s,
the Rooks have constructed a very distinct and finely tuned sound unlike almost any other band part of the scene.
A Wishing Well is
the Rooks' second full-length release and is considered by many power pop fans to not only be the band's best, but also one of the genre's finest releases of the decade. Here's why: from start to finish, almost no comparisons can be drawn to anything else ever done. The music has a timeless, craftsman-like quality; and while at first
A Wishing Well may not quite stand out, it only grows in stature upon repeated listens. While the "power pop" label doesn't seem to fit this band all that well -- their somewhat cerebral and almost bizarre pop seems deserving of its own genre -- this release is a must-have for all fans of the genre. ~ Jason Damas