A buddy and I, back when I was in sixth grade and he in fifth, recorded an album or two using my drum set (yep, I had one, and was privileged in that way I suppose) and a semi-expensive keyboard my dad had purchased during a strange era wherein he suddenly wanted to learn how to play and sing REO Speedwagon songs. If someone had dropped in during our sessions and yelled, “Guys, you sound too much like Def Lepp/Motley/etc.!” it probably would have ruined our fun, or at least have caused us to unnaturally alter the way we wrote songs (which, I learned later in one case, was to copy them word-for-word from Bon Jovi lyrics). And I don’t want to be that guy, bursting in like the Kool-Aid man and screaming, “Dude, someone loves Ariel Pink a little too MUUUUUCH!!!” and deflating everyone’s hot-air balloon-sized excitement over Part Time. But Jesus how could I not mention it when this 7-inch is spinning? His voice is a carbon copy of AP’s, and the music doesn’t stray far away enough from Pink to render me comfortable glossing over the connection altogether (I tend to give benefit of the doubt when possible). Regardless, I’ll be damned if David Loca isn’t one of the more clever songwriters out there, able to stir summer synth magic into a peppy brew that glides like rollerskates over hot, steaming pavement. The title track is ABBA chewing/stretching on a bunch of Abba Zabas at the 80s rink, Dave Chappelle-style, charming and bleached bright blonde. “Pictures on My Walls” is a perfect song, replete with perfect synths, perfect vox, a perfect vibe, and perfect drum robots tapping away a perfectly simple beat. Enjoying this smear of sugar is akin to lapping up ice cream; don’t question why it’s good (as I just did for way too long in the intro), just get your fill and enjoy it before it melts into your shirt. Apparently the 7-Inches blog is no more (RIP) but that guy is still putting out records under the Sweaters/Pearls flag and this is a quality item; keep the format alive and buy this little orange-wax Jolly Rancher, willya?
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