Billy Tibbals – “Rock n’ Roll Kids b/w Playtime”

Just yesterday I was mentioning the power pop prowess of Billy Tibbals, and lo and behold here he is today with another candy-coated single. A double shot of slickened swagger, the new single showcases both Tibbals’ penchant for soft-punch punk and the more playful side of the spectrum. The A-side, “Rock n’ Roll Kids” is a vamped slice off of the Milk n’ Cookies contingent. Hung on a perfect pout, caramel cream harmonies, and an addictive crunch of guitar, the song nods back to the round up on Yellow Pills and its latter day counter part Buttons. A slight shadow of glam hangs over like a passing cloud, but at its heart this is a pure power pop confection. The B-side turns down the guitar crunch in favor of a piano strut and winking Sparks-esque humor. Swooning choruses and a rosy glow of brass give the song a studio sheen that’s often missing from some of the current power pop purveyors. It’s the kind of single that’s going to inspire incessant flipping, running the riffs on repeat until they wear down to the plastic. It’s a damn good week for power pop around here and this one’s going to keep me going through the weekend. The new single is out now via Billy’s own Fizz Fizz Records.