Astounds, The

Energetic, fun, slightly disjointed power pop. Another lo-fi project by Dean Wells of The Capstan Shafts. If Guided by Voices did exclusively a bunch of short, catchy pop songs. Combines the infectious hooks of 90s guitar pop with a messy, lo-fi aesthetic. Uplifting, fuzzy melodies and guitar solos galore. The songs are difficult to distinguish from each other and all delightful for the radio.

RIYL: Capstan Shafts, Guided by Voices, Feelies, Breeders, Superchunk, R.E.M., Badfinger, Replacements

No FCC’s!!

1. ***The Sun Was Proud (1:32) –summery, feel-good stuff
2. **Favorite Truth (2:17) – guitar solos that could fit in 70s/80s power pop
3. ***Cemetery Dance Off (1:47) – whining harmonies, evident tambourine here
4. ** Uncanny Valley Sunday (1:28) – “bahh bahh bahh” backing vocals, happy clapping
5. ***Sky Dispatches (1:41) – steady, cheerful melody, flows into next song
6. **I Get Astound (0:44) – just the chorus of a pop song, possibly the band theme
7. ****Canvasses It Happens To (1:30) – they really jam out in this one
8. *** Objectivity is So What Was (1:57) – vocals more relaxed yet uplifting here
9. ***Cosmic Pouts (1:53) – air guitar material
10. **Space That Gets to Be (0:59) – more wistful but still just as catchy
11. **Miss Bubble Universes (2:17) – the song so catchy even that buzzy thing is humming along
12. ***Full Joy (1:33) – more whiney harmonies, more fun