The Red Button

This is the most fun, unabashedly Beatles-esque power-pop platter to come out of L.A. in years. Reminding refreshingly of ‘70s/'80s Angelino forebears the Last and Three O'Clock with flecks of the Rutles' All You Need Is Cash, She's About to Cross My Mind has the style and flair that fans of the With the Beatles-Sgt. Pepper Fab Four dream of nightly. These tasty, upbeat tunes are also the sugar plums dancing in those beat group lovers' nocturnal visions, outfitted with brazen McCartney basslines ("Free" is the latest in a long line to grab the one from "Taxman"), Harrison's imitable Rickenbacker chimey guitars, and the simple harmonies of American contemporaries (fellow Brian Epstein client) the Cyrkle, Beau Brummels, and Lovin' Spoonful. They're 11 sunny, post-Merseybeat gems à la Brits the Zombies, Hollies, Searchers, and Elvis Costello ("Hopes Up") -- or, to stick with L.A. lore, the Byrds, Knickerbockers, Merry-Go-Round, Monkees, Nerves, Bangs/Bangles, and Jason Falkner's many muses. Who are these happy Buttons, you ask? Two singer-songwriters with time for fruitful collaboration, Seth Swirsky (a hit tunesmith writing for Tina Turner, Al Green, Rufus Wainwright, Jane Weidlin, etc., not to mention his own 2005 LP, Instant Pleasure) -- and Rex Daisy's Mike Ruekberg (composer of indie film cult fave Dummy's soundtrack). Clearly, neither cares a fig how nostalgic this sounds, and neither should you. Just radiate in the poptastic splendor of the standout opener "Cruel Girl" and its 10 equally crush-cute friends. ~ Jack Rabid, The Big Takeover, All Music Guide