Casual Use is brimming with musical references to soft-rock antiheroes, which sounds like a hilarious oxymoron—Montague is obviously in thrall to artists like Andrew Gold, Randy Newman, and, of course, his personal idol, Harry Nilsson. Casual Use also proves that, in the right hands, ornate, hi-fi pop rock can still sound novel
The band’s previous releases displayed a marked, modern J-pop influence, and that’s definitely present here as well. Overall, however, Ethernity highlights For Tracy Hyde’s heavier and more indie-minded instincts. The boost in volume not only underscores the anthemic nature of these songs—it offsets the saccharine hooks.
The bulk of music released under the Balloon Club banner has been softer and atmospheric, while Ghost Pop’s releases are largely first draft run-throughs of songs. Water Songs—the newest EP from Balloon Club, and Liu’s first on upstart Portland label Bud Tapes—makes an effort to wed those two divergent identities.
Songs From Another Life, the latest album from Spanish/Swedish supergroup The Boys With The Perpetual Nervousness, is one of the first Bandcamp-core albums in recent memory to properly embody power pop’s platonic ideals. The album exists in an alternate reality where ‘60s worship and alt-rock sensibilities never cross-pollinated.