Blue Pop

Blue Pop stands among the best guitar-pop albums of the '90s with swirling melodies, unforgettable hooks, and heartbreaking sincerity. With its release, Adam Daniel establishes himself as another gifted, though commercially overlooked, songwriter in the vein of Tommy Keene and Marshall Crenshaw. Ranging from spiteful ("Breaking Up") to unabashedly optimistic ("Simple Things"), Daniel hits every point on the romantic spectrum. Though he deals with typical subject matter, he manages to inject enough personality into his songs to make them unique. "Her Shake" is an energetic attack of punchy guitars and singalong harmonies that will leave any true pop fan reeling, while "Cured twists and turns until it's completely embedded into your brain. Other highlights include the tragically sad "Why I Can't Be Beside You" and the dreamy "Battle Song."