Album Review: The Cheap Cassettes - "Ever Since Ever Since"

 

Another January release from Rum Bar, we first encountered the Cheap Cassettes last year via their mini-album See Her In Action which was a pleasant slice of power-pop which owed a sly nod to both the Replacements and the Jam. It's safe to say that this full length album is pretty much a full continuation of that sound.

Similar to the EP, the sound that Ever Since Ever Since brings to mind is a poppier Replacements especially the Paul Westerberg style vocals although there's a definite nod to early '80s US power poppers the Plimsouls in here as well as evidenced on the punchy riffs and chorus hooks of tunes like Malnutrition and How I Got What I Wanted.

To be honest, this album blows hot and cold a bit although there's definitely more good than bad on here. The plus points - Your I's Are Too Close Together is a fine slice of early Elvis Costello style vitriol, There Goes That Girl owes a sly nod to Soul Asylum in one of their better moments, One Black Summer sounds like T-Rex crossed with the Romantics and Endless Summer is an enjoyably sloppy slice of Mats/60Ft Dolls style wistfulness. The minus points - Red Line Blue and Baby Don't Get Weird are just sluggish, She Ain't Nothing Like You goes into angst-by-numbers territory and Wishing The Sun Away is just a bit forgettable to be honest.

All in all, while Ever Since Ever Since is unlikely to change anyone's world, it's still an enjoyable enough 40 minutes or so of old school power-pop that should appeal to fans of the genre if not necessarily those outside it. They may not quite be a full on knockout band yet but I wouldn't bet against the Cheap Cassettes getting there with a bit of practice and refinement.

Bandcamp Link

NITE SONGS RATING: 🌔🌔🌔🌔🌔🌔🌔🌑🌑🌑 (7/10)

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