45 and 33

Fronted by power pop fanatic Gregg Potter, Philadelphia's Blank Pages are steeped in the sweet hooks and harmonies of the Raspberries and Badfinger, while incorporating the occasional punch of the Knack on their delightful second album 45 and 33. With a succinct, sugary shot, "1983" gets things started by paying homage to Paul McCartney's long-forgotten Tug of War album before the men of Blank Pages move on to pay tribute to their beloved vinyl records on the title cut, which finds Potter sounding vocally like a dead ringer for XTC's Andy Partridge. With rollicking, superb numbers like "Something Made Me Think of You Tonight" and "More Than a Million Times," the trio blends blissful harmonies with an undying love for Anglo-pop songcraft that sustains through all 13 tracks here -- save for the monotonous, jazz-rocker "Packing Boxes." Coupled with the powerful studio hands of the Greenberry Woods boardsman Drew Mazurek, Blank Pages find themselves full of musical ideas on this largely awe-inspiring disc.