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Casio Rodeo, the EP that has got me hooked, is the perfect blend of meaning, a feel-good style and addictiveness. These three aspects are the key to any great powerpop band, at least in the mainstream sense. Casio Rodeo starts off with a bang in Dr. Huxtable, a song that is so simple yet extremely addictive. The first thing that caught my eye is how relevant the lyrics were. Dr. Huxtable talks about how awesome Mercy Mercedes is, but not in a cocky way, instead it’s actually somewhat touching. For example the chorus goes as such: “Shout it out at the top of your lungs and follow along while we sing this song to you and only you!” These guys make songs to please the crowd, and Dr. Huxtable is the perfect example. In terms of the music, the song contains guitar riffs that aren’t overpowering, well placed drums and bass, great vocals that are really welcoming and excellent backing vocals. Definitely a song the sums up what their all about, but the EP has a lot more to offer.

Shiver Me Timbers, the second track, has a similar format for success but instead opts for a more aggressive guitar line. The chorus remains catchy much like the rest of their EP and the vocals only add to the addictiveness of this song. The other thing to note is the use of synths, which is a sure fire way to get on my good list. The synths are lightly used and do not at all make the material feel fake or too electronic. The production value of this album is high because of the excellent timing and use of all the instruments, combined with the well placed vocals.

Skipping to the fourth track, The Perfect Scene; this is easily my favourite song from this band. Brilliant instrumentals combined with smooth vocals, creates one of the best songs I’ve heard in 2008. The use of synths is also a plus, but really the lyrics are what do it for me. The lyrics are meaningful, but not in a sick to my stomach kind of way. The whole song paints a “perfect scene,” and plays towards my emotions and state of mind. Definitely a powerpop pick me up, if you had to listen to one song from Mercy Mercedes, this is it.

Mercy Mercedes plays precision powerpop, they have every aspect down to a tee. All the songs off Casio Rodeo are hits, and I have nothing but praise for these guys. From the vocals to the synths, every piece of this band goes hand in hand. I cannot wait to see what’s next for these guys and it seems like 2008 is going to be a great year for the pop-punk scene. With this band and a whole slew of others, including the ones I’ve reviewed in 2008, it’s going to be a wild year.

Check out their Myspace for official tour dates and info.

Mercy Mercedes – The Perfect Scene