Jack's Mannequin - People and Things
Now on their third studio album, it's hard to decide where Jack's Mannequin are in terms of genre or popularity.
Their first two full-lengths performed fairly well in the US charts, but they're by no means a band on everyone's radar, despite their infectious, often accessible, sound.
Looking at their new album People And Things, the fact that they're not a worldwide phenomenom is quite the mystery.
Combining the charming simplicity of what makes pop music so infectious with a slight edge is a winning formula that gives them a relatively unique sound.
Certainly, this is a breath of fresh air, and it would be too easy to describe it as "pop-rock" and be done with it.
At its heart, it is just that - a perfect marriage of pop sensibilities and rock's attitude and roughness.
At times inoffensive (in the most positive way possible), People And Things has its darker moments littered across the record.
The depth of Andrew McMahon's songwriting is wonderful; it's a different kind of "pop rock", a phrase that carries an unfair stigma amongst music fans and press.
Songs like 'People, Running' move along at a brilliant pace, with intelligent melodies and fantastic instrumentation.
Dealing with the concept of love could result in a cliched or tired record in anyone else's hands, but here, ballads like 'Casting Lines' are huge, epic numbers.
It's the kind of ballad that song-writers for X Factor winners would wish they'd created, whereas tracks such as 'Restless Dream' echo sound of the recent contemporary folk movement seen through artists like Chuck Ragan and Laura Marling.
'My Racing Thoughts' and 'Amelia Jean' are complemented by beautiful instrumentation, warm production and well-crafted lyrics, all helping to make the album feel polished, without losing its edge.
As the year stretches on, and some albums become forgettable, it's not too early to predict that this should be near the top of some lists, come December.
People And Things is a beautifully crafted record, combining infectious tunes, up-beat piano accompaniment and just enough of an edge to keep it sounding special.
Female First - Alistair McGeorge