Regular Columnists

Artist: The Melloncollies
Album: Goodbye Cruel World
Website: http://themelloncollies.com
Genre: Power Pop
Technical Grade: 9/10
Production/Musicianship Grade: 9/10
Commercial Value: 9/10
Overall Talent Level: 9/10
Songwriting Skills: 9/10
Best Songs: All I Want, Loneliest Boy, Bullet In My Sunday
CD Review: Goodbye Cruel World is the debut album from Brooklyn based rockers, the Melloncollies. It’s a delicious power pop treat loaded with teen angst and catchy hooks. Simon Erani is the songwriter, guitarist, and lead vocalist and he’s joined by Peter Claro on lead and rhythm guitars, Paul Briscoe on bass, Darros Sandler on drums and Rick Treese on keys. Bullet In My Sunday leads off the album and sets the tone. Riff based power pop with a strong nod to late 70’s power punk groups like Cheap Trick and the Attractions is the order of the day. The band is crisp and well produced. Simple Naïve Someone is an optimistic, bouncy ode to love with a hook that stays long after the song is over. Claro’s lead is doubled by Treese on synth and the simple chord progression is perfect for the naïve, almost child-like lyric. My favorite cut on Goodbye Cruel World is All I Want. A nylon string guitar duets with a synth cello to open the ballad before the band comes in on the second verse. “All I want is someone to know just what I need. All I need is someone to love me who’s not crazy.” Goodbye Cruel World is loaded with catchy, radio-ready, three minute songs. I’ve listened to it repeatedly and it’s steadily grown on me. It’s simple, it’s straightforward, and it works. The Melloncollies may not be breaking new ground but that’s ok. This is good music.