Neon - Hit Me Again EP

Power-pop is all about short and sweet. But judging a power-pop band is to judge how well they do it over and over again. Many have produced a solid power-pop track – the one hit wonder would be nowhere without it – but it’s a difficult row to hoe if you have long-term goals. Neon’s debut EP, Hit Me Again, is a tidy package at a hairbreadth over twelve minutes so judging them along the above guideline is practically impossible. But as fun as practicality is, speculation and conjecture are way more entertaining. A three-piece out of Australia, Neon’s sound is one of few gimmicks, and that’s saying something since power-pop has become sort of a gimmick in itself lately. Bless them for not subjecting us to anything with an “emo” and a hyphen in it. Rather, they come off more like Cheap Trick if Evanston, Ill, were more like London. Take the rough and ready demo “He’s a Whore,” one listen of which will have you digging for your old Oasis CDs. “Hit Me Again” vibes a little more punk with interlocked guitar and bass, and the heavier “Dizziness” really gives vocalist/guitarist Josh Bitmead room to stretch out his pipes. Tack on the three dreamy chords of “Million Sons,” and you have a good way to kill, well, a short amount of time. Hit Me Again flashes some solid potential. While potential may not pay the bills, Neon have done more good than harm on this EP. They’ve certainly given no reasons to write them off as posers. At this point, it’s as fun to think about what they could be as it is to listen to what they are. [www.neontheband.com]