Around about a decade ago, it was pretty exciting time being a fan of the powerpop genre I can tell you.  It seemed like not a week would go by without me discovering a new band like Fuzzbubble, The Tories or Sugerbomb or a solo artist like (the sadly now deceased) Will Owsley and every one of their albums would go on to become classics of the genre in my own collection.  OK, so maybe none of these guys became household names, but the quality of the music they made was a head and shoulders above anything else going on in the world at the time and still sounds as timeless a full ten years on.

Taking more than just a page out of that chapter of the book of powerpop then comes Sweden's The Genuine Fakes.  Between the four of the guys who make up the band they manage to somehow cover all the points of reference I've just made whilst also adding in their own dash of genuine fakery to the mix to give you an eleven track antidote to the onset of winter blues.

'The Genuine Fakes' kicks off the album in classic "just under one minute opening titles track" style, for the TV show we'd all love to see.  As singer Joey, bassist Morty, drummer Johnny and keyboardist Tommy frantically lark around (at double speed of course) in their Genuine Fake shared bachelor pad, getting ready for another wacky weekly adventure.  Lucky for us then that the soundtrack to that imaginary series is already written as 'The Promise' opens up a nine song set of self penned tracks that sets the bar of European power pop excellence about as high as it can possibly go. 

Track's like 'Cmon Linda', 'Something New' and I Don't Want It' are your new musical best friends that you've yet to meet, whilst 'Star' and 'Mindset' are the hit singles the band so richly deserve. Wait. ...scratch that...EVERY TRACK on 'The Striped Album' should be a hit single, as this is as near to musical perfection as you'll get.

Granted there are the nods to the bands I mentioned previously, plus hints of The Posies and Jason Faulkner, but the deft touches that set The Genuine Fakes apart come in the shape of Joey's almost Nick Kershaw-like vocal delivery on certain tracks and the joyous sense of melody pervading proceedings that was last heard on say Rialto or Silver Sun's classic debuts.  One influence you would never expect to see here though is Beyonce Knowles, as The Genuine Fakes give her 'Irreplaceable' track a complete makeover and achieve the unthinkable by actually making it listenable. (You can download this track for free from the band's website if you don't believe me)

If The Posies 'Blood/Candy' is going to take the Uber Rock plaudits for being powerpop album of the year then 'The Genuine Fakes' are going to have to take the winners medal for producing the debut album of the year, no doubt about it. 

Look, I really cannot recommend 'The Striped Album' enough, it's simple, it's catchy and great fucking fun; so go and buy your digital copy now from the band's website, you will not be disappointed.

http://thegenuinefakes.com/