Podstar

Item: Lovely 32
Author: Matt Modrich

Lovely 32

(2002)

Reviewed by Matt Modrich

Discogs Bandcamp Apple Music

Label Noisome RecordsDecapolisJune 2002

pop rock power pop

Podstar is a three-piece power pop band from Kansas. Their latest release, "Lovely 32," is on Noisome Records.

"Lovely 32" is kind of disappointing to say the least. Podstar has a lot of talent, but they somehow manage to make an album with too many long and boring pop songs to count. The first three songs rock out pretty good, but then the music goes south and the guitar solos become the only things to look forward to. As for the lyrics, they rhyme but the majority of the songs are about women mixed in with a couple drinking songs-nothing extraordinary.

The highlights are pretty much the first three tracks. "Hop A Ride" starts the record out with a good driving song that sounds like John Mayer with a heavier band. Next is "Never Enough," which has a very unforgettable guitar hook that is almost guaranteed to stick in your head. However, the highlight of the record is track three: "Signed, Missing You." For almost three minutes Podstar resurrects the old Get Up Kids with a drinking song about a girl that would fit on "Something to Write Home About."

What's sad is that at the end of the day Podstar is not a bad band, but their songs make them champions of mediocrity. "Lovely 32" is just not that catchy and when it comes to power pop that's the unforgivable sin.