Skeleton Staff "Solipsism"

This criminally overlooked band from Australia has been rightly described as “like Crowded House being bent over the bar by XTC.” The band is represented by imaginative animated-style characters (they have a comic strip posted on myspace regularly) and has a combination of influences old and new bathed in sugary sweet pop. It’s almost like discovering The Wiggles, except it’s for adults.

Opening with the commercially viable pop of “Big Celebrity,” it shifts into “Skylarking” mode with “If You’ll Be My Adam” with multiple melodic twists and layered choral effects it makes an excellent single. “When She’s Got Her Blackboots” is another winner and invites comparisons to those Finn brothers. Guitarist/vocalist Stanton has a soothing vocal on “One Million Shirts” that proves to be a brilliant melodic ballad. The dramatic harmonies on “Act 2 Scene 3” are a treat as well. The quality of the songwriting flirts with novelty at times (“She’s So Rude”) or even sixties parody (“Didn’t Know Dumb”) but never fails to get your toe tapping. The title, “Solipsism” is the philosophical idea that only one’s own mind is sure to exist. Here is an album that proves great power pop exists too.