This one went straight to heavy rotation at PCP central. Typical of Rainbow Quartz' rather astounding output thus far, the Lackloves hit on all those anglophile nerves, combining luscious pop melody with instrumental muscle, groovy harmonies, and sparkling guitars. Led by Mike Jarvis, previously part of Milwaukee underground popsters the Blow Pops, the Lackloves emanate straight from the fertile mid/late 60's period of British pop, and recall Rubber Soul/Beatles For Sale era Fab Four (Jarvis' voice is very reminiscent of John Lennon), and, of course, other harmony acts like Badfinger, Squeeze, Big Star, et al. From jangly three-chord wonders like "Where Love Ain't Around," a gorgeous ballad, to the hushed, shimmering "Down Deep, " the Lackloves are that rare power pop band: one capable of sustaining an entire album with unforgettable songs.

If you like the clean guitar sounds and fab beats of the Britpop songs of the mid-'60s, then I'd say chances are strong you'll really like The Lackloves' sophomore effort Starcitybaby. While many of today's groups trade in fondly recreating this golden era of music with jangle guitars and nice harmonies, what distinguishes The Lackloves' Mike Jarvis and crew is the strength of the songwriting. Many of these songs are good enough melodically to hold their own with the originals.

After five years (and two albums) fronting the critically lauded Blow Pops, Milwaukee's Mike Jarvis set out to form a new band that would remain true to his love of that great pop music sound of yesteryear. After a few years of personnel changes, Jarvis got The Lackloves into the studio to record the now out-of-print As Far As You Know on small indie label Endora's Box. Drummer Nick Randazzo left and was replaced by Nick Verban, former Blow Pop bassist Jack Rice joined the group, and guitarist Bob Eickhoff joined Jarvis for this new record on Rainbow Quartz (though since its release, Eickhoff has moved on and been replaced by Don Moore).

There is no sophomore jinx here. Instead, Jarvis is very much on top of his game. You'll find this collection of 11 new songs as catchy as ever. It's as though the Mersey took a sidetrack through Milwaukee, and Jarvis' Lennon-like vocals provide just the right level of grist and edge to the otherwise sweet proceedings. This is great guitar-based pop that invokes the spirit of the 1960s, with hints of the Fab Four, The Kinks, The Who and even some Monkees, Rutles, Spongetones and Redd Kross. It's not far-fetched to reminisce about the sounds of Freddie & The Dreamers, Gerry & The Pacemakers, The Hollies or even The Mindbenders here -- Jarvis has done his homework and crafts lovely pop confections after this fashion.

Starcitybaby opens with the jangle pop of "Starspangledsatellites", employing a nice use of the guitar's harmonics and even featuring a backwards loop as a reprise at song's end. This is a song reflecting back on a relationship that was and somehow now isn't, the players having moved on without quite knowing why: "I'll never know what's come between us, you and I / and we'll remain undefined until the end of time". "Emily" is a tribute to an independent woman and her indefatigable spirit, done in the style of a new wave group from the early '70s (showing Jarvis' stylistic range). "Where Love Ain't Around" is a sugary ballad set against layers of shimmering guitar sounds, a pop tale of frustration and loneliness within an uncertain relationship. The middle bridge and ensuing lead break is pop perfection.

Jarvis switches to his Mersey Beat-vibe in the track "Goodbye".This is early Beatles pop simplicity, great rhythm guitars, bouncy bass, head-shaking beats, nice harmonies, handclaps, and guitar accents that are familiar as an old friend. The lyrics are simple, a reaction to being told goodbye. Immediately following is yet another perfect British invasion sound alike, the very infectious "Down Deep", which gets away with the type of simple early Harrison lead guaranteed to elicit a smile. Jarvis' vocals are as genuine as the originals, as he tells us "being wrong ain't any sin".

"Molasses Funk" takes off into the noise/psychedlic pop territory of the mid-to-late 1960s, allowing for some nice lead guitar while trading on a simple yet repetitive melody. The singer wants out of a relationship with someone who holds him back, doesn't have the slightest clue, doesn't know him well and will never know. Dulcet jangle pop is the fare with "Need to See You Tonight", a simple love song of the let's go anywhere, let's do anything variety, fueled by impressive guitars. "Something in Your Eyes" is an upbeat song about a failure to communicate: "You think I'm misunderstanding something in your eyes / I don't think you're seeing me too clearly, I don't think you've got it right".

"Lovin' On the Phone" is another up-tempo track of the utmost catchiness. Jarvis goes back to the classic sounds of the late '50s/early '60s with his ballad "Do You Miss Me?" Ah, what Tony Sheridan could have done with this kind of material!

The CD closes with "Brown Eyes You" a nice use of harmonies and rhythms that pulls out all the stops, using every element that makes for lasting sweet timeless pop, whatever the year. My only criticism of Starcitybaby is that the lyrics don't really challenge the way they should -- and considering the strength of the melodies, they almost cry out for more distinguished words. However, you'll probably be so busy singing along you probably won't even notice. This is the old made new with confidence and panache -- a fun summer collection that will leave you wanting more.

On their second album, starcitybaby, Milwaukee's Lackloves keep one foot firmly in pop soil and the other in that magical land of psychedelia. Though lead singer/songwriter Mike Jarvis no longer soaks his vocals in reverb as he did with his former band The Blow Pops, rest assured that the psych needle is still on "F", and when you add the strong Merseybeat and '50s influences Jarvis infuses, you've got a really unique and disparate mix of styles.

Excellent songs come at ya' one right after the other, the best of which are "Starspangledsattelites," which is like Buddy Holly taking psych classes, the mersey extraordinaire "Goodbye," "Down Deep," and "Lovin' On The Phone," and the swirling "Molasses Funk," which is neither funky nor will it put you in a funk. "Something In Your Eyes" will keep your toes a-tappin', and "Need To See You Tonight" is just an old fashioned love song.

No question about it, starcitybaby is an excellent disc by a great band!

The Lackloves are like black humour: don't know whether to laugh or cry. If that wasn't weird enough, the new album is a strange collection of songs emulating the best bands you've never heard of, rock 'n' roll of the purest power pop tradition. It seems geared to remind you of no-name '70s cult monsters like NRBQ and Big Star. That wins the Lackloves full marks for an album that gets better with each listen. You'll hate to love it, but you will

4/5

A strong contender for album of the year is the Lackloves' Starcitybaby. Lead singer/songwriter Mike Jarvis has a unique, passionate voice and a peerless pop vision that sounds familiar and comfortable without ever sounding derivative. And, oh, those songs! "Need to See You Tonight" is an immediate power pop classic, the '50's-ish "Do You Miss Me?" should make young lovers swoon, "starspangledsatellites" channels the spirit of Buddy Holly and "Molasses Funk" - no, it's not a .38 Special outtake - rocks like a mother.

Don't miss this one!

The Lackloves' second album, 2002's Star City Baby, is a continuation of the sound of their debut, As Far As You Know, which itself was the logical next step from singer/guitarist Mike Jarvis and bassist Jack Rice's two early-'90s albums with the Blow Pops, two of the most beloved albums of the '90s pop underground. These 11 songs are clearly indebted to all the usual suspects of power pop: the Beatles, Kinks, Hollies, Big Star, Flamin' Groovies, and Squeeze all leap immediately to mind while listening to these 11 jangly and harmony-heavy pop/rock nuggets. But where many bands working this side of the musical street invoke those heavyweights only to remind the listener of how inferior their own efforts are, Jarvis is a gifted songwriter with a knack for creamy-smooth verses and choruses that stick in the listener's head almost immediately. The dreamy "Down Deep" is the album's clear highlight, a song that any member of Badfinger or the Raspberries would have killed to have written. Jarvis even gets away with a song entitled "Molasses Funk," which sounds like one of the Sweet's harder-edged B-sides from their early "'Wig Wam Bam'" days. There is nothing that will change the world on Star City Baby, but it's a terrific frothy summertime pop album.

Second album from The Lackloves, who feature amongst them ex-members of The Blow Pops. It's their first album for Rainbow Quartz, a label you can trust to release great powerpop and psych-pop. The Lackloves usually play 60s influenced janglepop, but this album also includes some more 70s-ish powerpop, the occasional hint of psychedelia, and even some journeying into 50s ballad territory. It's very retro and you're sure to hear hints of most of the main 60s bands in their sound, but these bands are an inspiration rather than a source of material to pinch - there is a difference. This album contains a whole stack of really infectious pop, there's not one duff track on here. This band are a fine addition to the Rainbow Quartz roster.