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Jun 27, 2012 Web Exclusive By Frank Valish

For more than 10 years, Texas songwriter Salim Nourallah has been mixing his love of The Beatles and '70s power pop with a storytelling folk approach to create nuanced, hummable pop music. And though he has nine very solid albums under his belt, whether with his brother Faris in Nourallah Brothers, in his old band The Happiness Factor, or by himself, Nourallah has always remained relatively under the radar. That all might change with his latest solo album, Hit Parade. Through 14 tracks, recorded with his band The Salim Nourallah Treefort Five, which includes members of Apples in Stereo and The Polyphonic Spree, Hit Parade mixes all the things that Nourallah does well. "Unstoppable" is an upbeat, sing-a-long ode to childhood (and essentially parenthood as well). The title track is a solemn and airy reminiscence. "Everybody Knows" is power pop with thick guitar bite, and album closer "Miette" is a touching, loping, not-quite-country song to love that is subtle yet completely and utterly filled with feeling. Not to mention "Goddamn Life," which is the catchiest song about life being a bitch that you'll ever hear. Salim Nourallah's songwriting will not hit you over the head with histrionics. It will not slap you in the face with bombast. It will not out-quirk your indie-pop hipster favorites. But with Hit Parade, Nourallah has proven yet again that he deserves to be out front and center, not just your favorite secret. (www.tapeterecords.de/artists/salim-nourallah/) 

Author rating: 7/10