Saturday Morning Cereal Jingle
Pop and Circumstance - Lunchbox (Newer Music Friday)
I used to have this lunchbox that was shaped like a monster, and it was one of the best things I’ve ever owned. It came with stickers so you could customize the face, and so even though my sister & I had the same shape, they looked totally different. It was fun and whimsical, especially for my young imagination, who thought of the lunch inside as something I shared with the monster, at least until I ate it. Anyway, while I don’t have that lunchbox anymore, I know for a fact that if it could stand up and sing a few songs, it would sound exactly the way Lunchbox sound on their brand-new, spectacular album Pop and Circumstance!
“Dinner for Two” is one of the strongest openers I’ve ever heard, a sort of cosmic traffic jam of a tune that sounds like Elvis Costello, TV Girl, and The Apples in Stereo fused together into one absolutely terrific conglomerate. The first thing I noted when I heard the song was that the drums are working OVERTIME, taking what could be a simple beat and knocking it out of the park with perfectly timed flourishes. The bass mirrors the horns then keeps running, a bouncing line that keeps the song moving onward and upward. There’s a nice reliability in the repeat of the horns, which then give way to a cool slow-down ending that lets you down easy.
To follow “Dinner for Two” with “I’m Yours, You’re Mine” is a great move by Lunchbox, as it just confirms that this album is not one to miss. I love the smooth transition between the previous track to this one, as subtle details like that make my heart just totally soar. “I’m Yours, You’re Mine” is a bright and bubbly song, one that captures the essence of a Saturday morning cereal jingle. It’s got a relentless beat that keeps itself fresh, much like a glass of orange juice one would keep close when watching said Saturday morning cereal jingle! The tune has a melody that’s infectious, the perfect type that jams itself in your head until you can’t help but sing along.
Another song that really got me was Track 10’s “Time Won’t Lie”. It’s got this cool skip-a-beat flow that makes it sonically really interesting. If you’re familiar with my reviews up to now, you’ll know that I have a particular fondness towards handclaps in songs, and man they’re just perfect in this song. I like how the horns come back in this tune, low in the mix but present for the eagle-eared listener to catch and enjoy. I love the integration of the acoustic guitar towards the middle, as it really helps lift the song up more and more. Plus, any song with a “do-do-do” interlude has my heart in a second!
“All Around the World” was the one that really made me stop in my tracks. I’m usually really attentive to closing tracks, but this one made it less of a chore to do so. To begin with such beautiful, flowing guitar is something that really grabs your attention from the very beginning, and it makes sure to keep it all the way through. The harmonies are simple yet fit so darn well, and I’d be crazy not to mention the stellar addition of the tambourine! I liked how “All Around the World” went in a bit of an unexpected direction, with a paced-out speedup towards the end that gets you in a different headspace, yet still leaves you ready to start right back from the beginning when the last note finally fades out.
With Pop and Circumstance, Lunchbox have crafted a candy-coated album full of charming songs that are genuine and really darn catchy. Thinking about these tunes gives me a warm fondness in my heart, the same feeling I have when I think about my beloved monster lunchbox.
Wanna hear me talk about a few of my favorite Beatles songs? Tune into Sirius XM’s The Beatles Channel (Channel 18 or on the app) TOMORROW, Saturday 5/11 at 10pm EST for the last chance to hear My Fab Four :)
Got something I should hear? Let me know here!
Follow Ear Bites on Instagram here!
Follow Ear Bites on Spotify here!