Song of the Day 9/3: Sheer Mag, “Hardly to Blame”

It’s been just about a year since I first featured this Philly band in Song of the Day, and they just released a new album, “A Distant Call,” that tops the Rolling Stone September Quick Hits list of “albums you need to know about now.” This one’s better produced — not slick, but not as ragged as their first — and full of hooks that cover a range of styles. The best tracks, like “Hardly to Blame,” operate in singer Tina Halladay’s belting range.

“Blood From a Stone” addresses poverty with pointed lyrics, crunchy guitars and a power-pop hook.

The band’s shows its impressive versatility with “Silver Line,” a tune so light it could pass for yacht rock if not for Halladay’s upper-range shrillness.

I’d post more, but you should probably spring for the whole thing if you like what you’ve heard.