Better Living Through Compression

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Better Living Through Compression album cover
Album Information
EDITOR'S PICK

Total Tracks: 11   Total Length: 38:59

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Stacy Flatt

eMusic Contributor

04.22.11
An album deserving of a spot on every power-pop fan's CD shelf.
2004 | Label: Its About Music.com / IODA

Cliff Hillis, a veteran of power-pop outfits Starbelly and the John Faye Power Trip, kicks off his sophomore album with a track full of the guitars and harmonies that are power-pop's bread and butter. Better Living Through Compression is full of melodies so catchy, you find yourself singing along. Hillis is an unabashed power-pop fan and his album is full of all the influences that you might expect, from the Velvet Crush and Matthew Sweet to the early proprietors of the genre such as the Beach Boys and the Raspberries. Better Living Through Compression deserves a place on every power-pop fan's CD shelf.

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EMUSIC-00691611

Ex-Starbelly member, Hillis delivers all the hallmarks of his debut "Be Seeing You".Powerful, guitar-driven pop that`s slick withut being cheesy, light and pleasant without inducing cavities, and that has a rock `n roll soul. Hillis is on par with other contemporary pop singer-songwriters, like Michael Carpenter and Brendan Benson, who seem to innately and effortlessly write songs that just feel right. His solo record winning streak now stands at two. His mature, positive lyrics about relationships and marriage do make him standout in the singer-songwriter crowd where whining and emo-heartache can abound. Power pop for today.

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