A Detroit-based 3-piece that sounds like they are having a blast playing “My Body (Is a Strange Place To Live)” with it’s quick guitar riffs and Mother Hips-styled dense psyche touches. By getting down to the early  80’s DIY essence of the punk/pop movement, the Friendly Foes raging diatribes on rock and roll’s currents state of affairs are done with just enough sugar to help this medicine go down. Coming from other bands, Ryan Allen (Thunderbirds Are Now!), Brad Elliott (Satin Peaches), and Lizzie Wittman (Kiddo) hit the ground running. Opening with “Full Moon Morning” it’s a template for the best of this album, with angular guitar riffs and Ryan leading the charge. Friendly Foes’ sound best compares with The New Pornographers, but it’s not all fey pop sweetness here. Using sunny boy-girl harmonies and bouncy major chords on “Criminal Justice” it’s got a catchy swagger that is hard to ignore. This album takes no prisoners and doesn’t let up either. So if you’re looking for a ballad somewhere, you’ve got the wrong album. Wittman gets to shine on a few songs, notably “Get Ripped” which resembles The B-52’s and The Ramones combined.  All this energy goes to good use as almost every song here kicks ass. Some highlights include, “Get Yr Shit Together”, “Couch Surfing”and the epic “Lil’ Tiger” all with excellent melodies and great musicianship. On “Dying To Survive” and “Breakfast Burritos” gets a bit too typical, but that is being picky here. This is like power pop with an extra shot of caffeine. Make mine a double.

My Space | CD Baby

This was an album that I’ve been meaning to listen to since the summer, and Steve recently played in NYC, so I was finally able to get a hold of “Hurricane Season.” Steve Caraway has a very eclectic approach to pop. His vocals are a great strength and this evidenced on the opener “Before You Run Away” which has a Spongetones meets Michael Carpenter vibe. The sound runs from 70s arena rocker to contemporary soul pop, if you can visualize Dave Bickler’s (Survivor) range with Frank Sinatra training – that’s about right. “When I Change Your Mind” is another great song with lots of jangle and a good hook-filled chorus. The title track, “Hurricane Season” brings to mind Adam Marsland’s style of aggressive pop. Then he shifts into soulful balladeer on “Something New” and “No Looking Back” – this is where his really vocal chops shine and carry the song. That’s not to say the jangle pop songs aren’t damn catchy though, “Rabbit” has a sticky chorus with sweet chord changes. “Gone, Gone, Gone” gets his Beatles mojo in overdrive with sitar leading the way on the song. My favorite song here though is “Sausage Factory” about the cynical and destructive music industry (“Golden handshakes/Smiles so phony”). “Scented Letter” makes good use of overdubbing and recalls The Smithereens best. The stylistic changes on some songs may be jarring at first, but you’ll be humming these song over and over. It’s most welcome on my ipod in repeat mode.

My Space | eMusic