Greg Pope - Fanboy (Deluxe Edition) (2015)

Nashville’s Greg Pope’s been on a roll since Pop Monster landed like a nuclear bomb in 2008, followed by Pete and Pop Motion Animation. Fanboy is another tour de force showcasing Pope’s superb dynamics, one power pop classic after another. He’s got a unique melodic sense, always hitting the unexpected hook or chord. If you froze his music, it would resemble modern urban eclectic architecture with arched roofs combined with angular Bahaus pitches. The title track combines James Bond chase themes with a sweet hook, while “Greater Threat” brings the strum. The 23 track album includes “work tape” versions of all the songs, but these work tapes are just as satisfying, if not moreso than the finished versions. Pope’s songs sound just as good in acoustic format as electric.