Pete and Christian Andrews, with new bassist Matt Agresti, are back as Million Time Winner. Last year's All But Snatched Away was a great debut for the New Jersey based rockers, reminiscent of Toad the Wet Sprocket at their best moments. They have now returned with Paint Me Fine and Free, a six song EP of power pop, the kind that causes you to raise the volume, lower the car windows, and sing along.
Christian Andrews still sounds like a cross between Glen Phillips (Toad the Wet Sprocket) and Brad Olsen (The Waiting), but at times this EP shows some punk sensibility as well. "Motion Picture Game" quotes Jeremiah and Ecclesiastes, and sounds like a mixture of Green Day and The Offspring. "Our Secrets" comes across like a long lost David Lowery (Cracker/Camper Van Beethoven) song.
"Feels Like", a song about rising from adversity, combines the sounds of Cracker and Green Day, while "October Leaves" and "I Been" blend a Jars of Clay sound with Toad the Wet Sprocket vocals. "Just Keep Telling Yourself" is a reminder that we can deal with our sufferings, because Christ endured much worse.
Paint Me Fine and Free doesn't quite measure up to All But Snatched Away, possibly because an EP is being compared to a full length album. But, when considered on its own merits, Paint succeeds on a level that meets the need we all have for pop hooks, lyrics we can sing with, and at times points us to God. And that's a pretty good measure for success.
3.5 tocks
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