He's After Me

Album Review

The debut by this great, underrated Minneapolis band is pitched between punk-pop and power pop, the fruitful area that groups like the Fastbacks and Flop also explore. The Hang Ups are mellower than either of those bands, though, much less interested in the possibilities of hyperspeed melodies. Most of He's After Me is pleasantly mid-tempo, with occasional bursts of hyperactivity. The dreamy "Waiting," with its Big Star-like strained harmonies and shoegazery drone-pop guitars, is a brilliant opener, and while not all of the songs are up to that standard, singer/songwriter Brian Tighe is able to synthesize his influences (Alex Chilton, Johnny Marr, maybe R.E.M.) into a catchy blend of jangly-noisy guitars, sweet-and-sour harmonies, and catchy tunes. More low-key and prettier than the Hang Ups' later records, He's After Me is a fine debut.