Today's featured shit

It’s an EP with a few remixes thrown in. The original sounds like another Book of Love sendup, although it has none of the innocence. Second track is an instrumental of the first track. I suppose that’s called “karaoke version” these days. Use it as a bed while you’re on the air if you want. The third track is the acapella version. It is not an a cappella version, however. I’m not sure what it is. Maybe unnecessary, and I normally love remixes.

“The Guest” is the B-side. It sounds like something David Bowie would do. The problem with this is that David Bowie is 62. It’s just a little too slow but not downtempo. Like the PT Cruiser it does not belong in any one class.

Glass Slipper is the last track. This has a very nice electronic feel to it, although the synthesized voice is over, right? The music itself is fine, which is why “Nite” is such a good song. “Glass Slipper” is good for driving, but that’s about it.

This is what indie rock is supposed to be about: varying styles of music by the same act, all rallying around a certain rhythm so you don’t feel threatened. Proud Simon can sound like R.E.M. (“Last One Left”). They can sound like country (“Bled Red Wine”). But most importantly they can sound good.

“Clockwork On and On” is a bit tripped in the ’90s, but if you want that Gin Blossoms/Toad the Wet Sprocket sound, then why look further? Here’s a hint: You don’t have to.

Everybody is into long song titles these days, but “Everyone on the Train Could Use a Little Change” is more than that. This ’70s-sounding track channels “Ramblin’ Man” by The Allman Brothers. Honest and for true!

“Honeymoon” has harmonica. It’s only missing Tom Petty, really, but that’s necessarily a bad thing. This track is a bit more dialed down than a lot of the others, and I think it takes away from the strengths of the band.