So I'm sitting at home on a Summer's evening having a cup of tea. I've got a spare half an hour out of nowhere, which is always an unexpected treat, so I delve into my pile of CD's, trying to find something to listen to. Something a little random appears at the top. The debut album from Gramercy Arms, a New York supergroup, featuring members of Joan As A Policewoman, Guided By Voices and The Dambuilders with backing vocals by the filthest woman on the comedy circuit, Sarah Silverman. And what a revelation it is. A perfectly executed 30 minutes of power pop to rival the very best. A slice of pure sunshine goodness full of catchy riffs, heartfelt lyrics and more bounce than a shed full of Tiggers. See, it's even put me in a good mood! What this album feels like is the Teenage Fanclub at their very peak, before they got a bit boring and repetitive. The tunes might deal with the usual worries of life; gaining and losing love, but they're spun so joyously together and without reservation, that you'll find your foot tapping along almost automatically. There's a hint of New Pornographers to 'Fakin'', Super Furry Animals at their Beach Boys best on opener 'Automatic' and Nada Surf on the ponderous 'Wander On'. It's an album that, with an impressive CV of songwriters involved, will always hint at their respective influences, but fermented together create this heady brew of great pop music.The best thing about this album is that, with it over in a sonic blast of 30 minutes, you don't have enough time to get bored. The songs are short, sharp and sweet. Sure, it might get a little tiresome over a longer period, but they don't insult you by letting it drag on. The only problem I can see is that, as the weather has started to change, it might have missed it's perfect moment to soundtrack the summer. 79%Links Gramercy Arms [myspace]