Why, you may ask, if I spent so much time last week writing, would I devote so much space in this review to giving you the back story.  Well, it's because you need to know just how completely unprepared I was to be blown away by this album.

I tend to get frustrated with power pop, because most acts, even the ones I adore, suffer for one reason or another.  Some lack the vocal chops to pull off their melodies; others try too hard to be clever that they lose sight of the importance of the hook.  And then there are those who are so busy trying to be Brian Wilson that they forget that pop should be fun.

But Everybody Else has the complete package.  It's been a long time since I heard a debut album from a power pop band that exudes this much confidence and command of their craft.  Lead singer and songwriter Carrick Moore Gerety has a voice similar to the late Jim Ellison of Material Issue, and bassist Mikey McCormack and drummer Austin Williams each display an impressive set of chops.  

There's not a bad song to be found on here, and several of them, like "Meat Market" and "In Memoriam" are excellent.  Every chorus and bridge offers a new texture or rhythm, and they're equally at home, with the Motown grooves of "Makeup" as they are with the Cheap Trick/Cars crunch of "Rich Girls, Poor Girls" and "Without You."    And it's all done with more "oohs" and "aahs" than a girl showing off her engagement ring to her friends.

Produced by Rick Parker (Black Rebel Motorcycle Club), Everybody Else is the type of album that pop fans dream about, chock full of great songs where the hooks, even when you know they're coming, never fail to put a smile on your face.