Household Names may very well land in the center of your radio dial. Although, I could imagine hearing them on some college radio station. Their brand of American Pop Rock (“Definitely”) comes coupled with enough variety and indie spunk to land them outside of the pop part of the Spectrum.
Stories, No Names opens with “Driving to LA” and “Every Third Time” that sound a bit like Jars of Clay’s Folk-influenced American Rock while also reaching for a College Rock like Whole Fantastic World. A Jars of Clay eclecticism shows up on the ballad “Firefly,” where I can also see why others have compared the song to Elliot Smith.
“Definitely” is a jazzy pop pushed along on a Beach Boys wave of keys and horns. “Live Without” has that Minneapolis alternative rock guitar tinged by keyboards and a pop overlay like the Melismatics.
Jumping out among the rest of the disc is a great cover of XTC’s “Making Plans for Nigel,” which is tremendously punched up by the guitar and drums.
