One of the most-played albums on my iPod last summer was Leather Silk from My My My. It was full of well-written, off-kilter power-pop that cemented the band as one of my favorites. They really seemed to hit their stride on it, and an excellent single that followed shortly after ("War Party") only made me love them more. Not wasting much time getting back to the studio, My My My are now out with a new EP titled Wishing You Whatever's Best. It's another solid set of tunes, this time adding in an extra dancey kick and playing up the synths.Even though words like "poppy" and "dancey" are not off-base, this isn't just any dull night at the prom. Take a look at the CD's artwork and you see that people have been beaten up, the cake has been smashed and the girl is pissed off. This is a good reflection of the music; on the surface it's shiny, fun and lets you whip out some of your best dance moves. But listen closer and it becomes clear that there's plenty of dysfunction to go around, with lyrics of desperate characters and strained relationships.
Featuring a chorus of "If we kiss real hard the city lights'll turn to stars," "Hard Kisses" starts things the EP off with its most upbeat, starry-eyed sentiment. Still, there are hints of weariness and trepidation--take the opening lyrics: "I need someone to lay on / You'll do better than most / It's a chance I'm willing to take before I go." Musically, it's a driving number that showcases what My My My does best--charming, hummable pop music with a quirky twist. As with previous releases, one of the most interesting elements of My My My's sound on Wishing You is the interplay between the vocals of Russell Baylin and Sarah Snow. It works to full effect on this track, with Baylin starting off, Snow joining in with a second vocal part and both of them working together on the immediately catchy chorus.
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