If the slightly skewed playground pop of Little Pieces sounds familiar, it should--mastermind Herman Jolly was also the driving force behind the late, great Sunset Valley, and while he may have given his new band a less eccentric facade, he certainly kept the foundation intact. In his new trio, Jolly's bouncy melodies and quirky lyrics have more room to roam and less sonic distractions to compete with, while his voice sounds stronger and more confident. Like those of Robyn Hitchcock and the Flaming Lips' Wayne Coyne, Jolly's authentic (and embedded in irresistibly catchy pop). There aren't a lot of folks who can make lines like "I'm a parasite without a host" sound both endearing and perfectly natural. This sprite debut is chock-full of gems, but check out the Pixies-ish "Featherweight Song" and the breathless "Wrote a Letter" for starters.

-Barbara Mitchell

(sound) magazine - June 2008 Edition