Stereo

Like their two previous stellar recordings, Rewind + Record is a near-perfect pop record slumming as a punk album. More so than their Weezer-influenced debut and its catchy rock'n'roll follow up, Rewind + Record is their most introspective and melodic effort thus far. Mixing up their thick bar chord guitar sound with electronic drumming, Hammond organs and pianos, there was a risk that the record would become too "big" and lose some of its heart, but thankfully the honest feeling in the vocals keeps the record feeling real and genuinely personal. Faultless in both its ambition and execution, Rewind + Record is bound to be one of the most memorable records this year. Just when I thought pop was a dead horse, the Stereo started beating it with a better stick.