Power Pop hailing from Pittsburgh has never been so good! Honestly if you want a bit of fun in your ear then you’d do well to hook yourself up with a shot of Chip and the Chargeups new EP which not only picks up where their debut (Flow of the Current Part I) left off (making up a full album) but also adds the answer to a question we ask on occasion in interview – “Can music change the World” in their heartfelt ditty ‘The Song That Saved the World.’
Starting at the beginning though ‘Sunshine, Take Me Away’ is as bright as the summer sky, Pop for sure, but with Rock at its heart and a sweeping chorus, with a little 60’s nod or two in the mix.It’s a very cool song.
‘Punk Rock on Acoustic Guitar’ couldn’t be more different, quirky, a little creepy even, but still shot with fun. It’s a light throwaway song that maybe should have come a little later. “It feels so right driving on the left side of a car,just like Punk rock on an acoustic guitar” As someone who drives on the right I’d probably on reflection disagree with respect to both of those statements!
The aforementioned ‘The Song That Saved the World’ is the real cherry here though, a hilarious take on the theme of those heartfelt ballads that just make you cringe when you hear the lyrics – here the cringe is the point. An over the top ballad that I guess celebrates what we all hoped as kids that music could save the world.
The Cheap Trick-like ‘Friday Night Rocks’ is perhaps the ‘straightest’ song here. Nice power Pop Rock with an almost Mott The Hoople-like interlude and my favourite here. The final word goes to ‘By the Tracks’ where the Americana/Butch Walker vibe comes in, again it’s a pretty straight song but the further switch in genre whilst it comes easily and comfortably to this listener might be a little too fragmented for some. I personally love the song and the only shame for me is that there’s nothing else here quite like it.
If you like a little Green Day, Ramones, Cheap Trick, or even artists like Butch Walker and have a sense of fun and humour then check these guys out forthwith! If you like to put your music and genres in a box then this might be a little too free-spirited for you.