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Oct 03, 2016 Web Exclusive By Matthew Berlyant

In June 2015, the Brooklyn band EZTV put out their debut album Calling Out. Eschewing the long wait times in between albums that characterize the modern era, they have followed it a year later with their sophomore album High in Place. Though their label Captured Tracks is known more for the recent success of singer-songwriter Mac DeMarco and for ‘80s post-punk/C86 revivalists like Wild Nothing, DIIV, and Beach Fossils, power pop has always been another interest of label owner Mike Sniper, also the former owner of power pop reissue label Radio Heartbeat. Thus, it makes sense that he would sign a band who nods heavily to ‘70s power popsters like Shoes and Dwight Twilley, exuding the same sweetness on songs such as the opener “High Flying Faith” (which features Jenny Lewis) or “Reason to Run” that their forbearers were so proficient in. However, the band they remind of the most is a much more modern one. That is Real Estate, another Brooklyn via New Jersey band of recent vintage whose Martin Courtney appropriately enough plays guitar on this. Songs like “Hammock” and “Temporary Gold” evoke the same gentle, easy feeling and dream-like states that characterize Real Estate’s 2012 masterpiece Days and its 2014 follow-up Atlas.

Overall, though, while this is a highly enjoyable album full of some very catchy songs, it feels like EZTV is just getting started. While they keep constantly improving, it’s clear that their masterpiece has yet to come. (www.eztv.nyc)

Author rating: 7/10