Honeyrider is the peripatetic singer-songwriter-guitarist Gary Strickland in association this time once again with producer, bassist & keyboardist Paul Sampson (best known here for his work with late ‘80sUK band the Primitves) along with Sampson’s longtime drumming cohort Robin Hill and one Doug Black on guitar and backing vocals. His basic sound is a variant of classic California vocal harmony, even if it’s mostly himself double-tracked mixed with British C-86 Indie-Pop and a few other odds & ends. The problem for me is when various synths and things are brought in for "that modern sound" and it all becomes a bit of a hash (see "Depths Of Nowhere’). But when he sticks close to home, like with the sweet, buoyant "Madeira Streets," the swirling, energetic "Hello Tokyo" or the blast of pure Pop that is "Coolest Girl In School" it’s a chewy burst of prime Pop-Rock. (And to a degree reminds me of my pals the Surfin’ Lungs, though without Chris’ voice.) And that there are twelve cuts and only one can be considered to even barely approach three minutes makes it all slide down like fine Banana Cream water ice on a humidity tinged, 73º March day here in the neighborhood.

Little signposts and strange things pop-up briefly: The opener, "Suncoast," gives you the Beach Boys styled backing vocals right out of the box. While "Summer Love Affair" mixes in Association styled backing vocals with the melody taken from the Four Seasons’ "December 1963 (Oh What A Night)" used just on the first couplet of the verses, and an instrumental break featuring an organ solo right out of that Rick Wakeman solo record way down in your closet underneath those elephant bells. "Are You Clear" opens with what sounds like a variant on Paul Revere & the Raiders’ "Just Like Me"’s key organ riff. You know that without such brainteasers my life would be totally empty. (5/03)