Last week's release of the debut album by The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart seems like a little bit of a clear line where the reveling in the music of the 90's replaces reveling in the music of the '80's. Not that the '90's influcence hasn't been around, but it seems as pronounced now as it does on TPOBPAH's album.

So in other words, where half of everything new used to remind me of high school, now it all reminds me of college.

The Joy Formidable, "Cradle" (2009)

download at last.fm

This song seemed plucked right out of the mid 90's. That was a time when guitars and energy were back in vogue, but it was also a time that proved that guitar rock--like power pop and singer-songwriter stuff--lived and died by its hooks. When the hooks were there, it was glorious, but when they weren't, it was hard to imagine music more boring.

A description of "Cradle" is likely to put just about anyone to sleep: crunchy guitars, chirpy female vocals, big drums. "I'm pretty sure I've heard that one before," you say, and you're right. But there's the hooks: the hooting background vocals, the irresistible descending bass line, and the clear production that pulls out the energy and gives you that jump of excitement that's a reminder of why we all like R!O!C!K! music in the first place.

(Fine Tune Friday is my favorite song of the week, every week. See the past posts or subscribe to the RSS feed)