I have no topical reference today, just a song I keep on my playlist that nobody else has ever heard. I’m a sucker for power pop, and this little ditty hits my sweet spot — lots of jangly guitar with a melancholy edge, sort of a latter-day Gin Blossoms vibe.
Shark Tape is, or was, a Philly trio. They got a big push from WXPN back in 2014, when this song appeared on the LP “Marathon,” and they still spin the tune there occasionally. Despite good reviews from the indie pop press, the band never broke through and appears to have broken up. Their web site is defunct, and the last activity on their Facebook page is 2017, when bassist/guitarist Stephen Lorek announced he was forming a new band.
The band might have suffered for its versatility — every track on the LP sounds like a different genre, from the Ramones to Echo and the Bunnymen. This is probably my second-favorite song, but the whole thing is worth a listen — nothing earth-shattering, but some good tunes.
