Ripe

Talented songwriter, arranger, recording engineer and multi-instrumentalist James Palko has had a hand in a run of great records recently, ranging from his smooth, horn-laden take on the ‘70s as Jimmy Montague to an excellent pair of swan song albums from Taking Meds and Perspective, a Lovely Hand to Hold. Now, he's back with "what promises to be a breakthrough record" (-Punk Rock Theory) in Pretty Rude's debut LP with SideOneDummy, mixed by Jake Sinclair (producer of Weezer's White Album). 8 tracks of pure guitar rock/power pop magic, this is easily one of the best debuts we've ever come across. FFO: Weezer, Fountains of Wayne, Webbed Wing, The Cars, Superdrag