KANGAROO

Kyle Andrews is a singer/songwriter based in Nashville, but his music is about as far from country as you can get. He’s a pop songwriter, and in happier bygone times his bright, giddy, sunshine-sprinkled tunes would be blasting out of every AM station from coast to coast — which is not to say that his tunes are retro in the least. Andrews has a modern sensibility and his homemade tunes — recorded in his bedroom studio with the help of his computer and synthesizer — wouldn’t be mistaken for anything from the Summer of Love, despite their trippy hippie vibe. Unlike a lot of indie rockers, Andrews likes his music clean, and despite the limitations of his home setup, the six tunes on this EP sparkle and shine. “You Always Make Me Smile” is a bouncy, optimistic tune driven by a cheerful acoustic guitar, Andrews’ buoyant whistling, and an irresistible singalong chorus. “Kangaroo,” an irrepressible bit of white-boy Motown, keeps up the good vibes with its driving beat and a catchy spelled-out refrain. “Lov3r” rides a perky beat with Andrews’ vulnerable tenor adding to the song’s charm. The poignant “Don’t Feel Left Out” slows things down to reassure a melancholy lover that things are going to be all right. Andrews sings the lyric with a catch in his throat that makes the tune even more moving. “Sushi,” from Real Blasty, gets a “Slow Dancing at the Prom Mix.” It’s a slow, dark track, but the synthesized xylophone hook adds a perky element to the mix. – j. poet