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Death Party Playground - Little Joy

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Death Party Playground kicks off its album Little Joy with a perfect, power-pop couplet: "You said a word/It sounded like forever." You may miss this lyric's true genius upon first listen, just as the song's narrator misheard what his partner actually said. It is seriousness disguised by sweetness. One definition of power-pop music is smart lyrics, dressed in irresistible electric guitar-based rock & roll. Or an easier to remember description: mid-Sixties Beatles music. Not everything Death Party Playground matches or lives up to a Beatles-esque high standard, but there's enough good music on this ten-song set to highly recommend it.

The album's prettiest song is "Still Memories," which is infused with chamber pop instrumental sweetness and lovely vocal harmonies. Revealing the act's sonic variety, "Girls" rocks gently with an insistent electric guitar groove. It's one that would fit nicely into Bruce Springsteen's repertoire; one can easily imagine The Boss giving it his distinctly gruff vocal tone. Then there's "Break the Rain," with its lullaby feel. This is a soft, quiet song filled with longing. "I wonder if I'll see you again," they sing.

Death Party Playground is a name that doesn't always fit the act's music because much of this music is, contrastingly, the life of the party.

Death Party Playground - Little Joy
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