These Weymouth, Dorset seaside vets aren't depressed by the departure of original guitarist/co-songwriter James Laming after 2008's debut LP (following some EPs), Let Them Eat Cake. With replacement Leighton McGrath ensconced, leader
Simon Felton cheerfully carries on his classic pop muse, delving even deeper into benignly embraced influences. It's one thing to adore
the Byrds the way
Teenage Fanclub and
Velvet Crush did; it's another to so successfully capture, as with a net, the singular resplendent harmonies all three sing, like on the opening "Cool Your Jets" and "Short Straw." These are so good, they could be outtakes from
the Fanclub's
Howdy (a compliment). Otherwise,
Garfield's Birthday sublimely keep the tempting harmonies coming, along with Colin Moulding (
XTC)/
Paul McCartney sweet pop (the violin-bedecked waltz "Cambridge"), plus neo-
Kinks ("I See Shadows"), and neo-
Sound Affects Jam ("Carry on Karaoke," "Better Thing") treats. ~ Jack Rabid, The Big Takeover