The Melloncollies

(Four Stars ****) Goodbye Cruel World is a collection of a dozen well done pop songs. [Simon Erani] certainly shows a knack for writing a strong song . . . I don't doubt The Melloncollies familiar sound will become more familiar if they can continue putting out songs like these. Dont feel sorry for singer/songwriter Simon Erani, the force behind Th... e Melloncollies and their debut album Goodbye Cruel World. He prefers to wear his real-life melancholy on his sleeve like a badge of honor. And as the band creates a unique blend of everything from 80s synth pop to 90s arena grunge rock, the lyrics draw creative inspiration from one of mankinds oldest and most universal sourcesa broken heart. From the first seconds of the melodically-drenched opening track Bullet In My Sunday, Eranis vocals and keyboards, Peter Claros guitars and bass, and Darros Sandlers drums combine with an energy and ferocity that make this Brooklyn-based band sound like anything but a freshman act. Just as you find yourself singing along with the last chorus (Oblige me by taking aim /And please put a bullet in my Sunday), the hook-laden Simple Nave Someone has you believing in love again. While Eranis vocals may bring to mind such unabashedly clean pop singers as Bleu or Robin Wilson of The Gin Blossoms, he can also muster up the rock-and-roll rawness of Paul Westerberg of The Replacements or Dave Pirner of Soul Asylum. Such is the case with the track You You Yeah Yeah, a raucous night-driving wailer in pursuit of yet another what-went-wrong (I gave up my world to you you yeah yeah / What the hell did you do for me?). In striking contrast, a string quartet joins a lonely nylon-stringed guitar as the rock ballad All I Want answers that angry question with crestfallen acceptance (Im here alone and always wondering why / Everything so wrong is never right). Let It Rain picks up the pace with a driving four-on-the-floor beat reminiscent of The Cranberries hit Dream, and Erani once again turns a storm into a renewing baptism as he sings this open ...Read More