I mean, beyond the major label push and the inevitable over-exposure?

[img][300:300]http://ec3.images-amazon.com/images/P/B000GFLEC2.01._SS500_SCLZZZZZZZ_V64223313_.jpg[/img]

Because this album is close to awesome. The images of The Wild, The Innocent, and the E Street Shuffle and Cosmo's Factory that are artfully embedded in the cover art actually make a little sense. The songs are short jabs of perfect geetar pop, and the dude's voice splits the difference between Bono and Paul Westerberg. I'll admit I liked it a little more before I read the lyric sheet, and I suspect the shelf life will only be about 2 weeks duration, but still, this is one of the first pleasant left-field surprises of '06.

Like, one time, I saw that album in a record shop. Totally true, dude!

I read this blurb by Bill Picture in the SF Chronicle the other day:

I'm loving Irish indie-pop quartet La Rocca's recently released debut, "The Truth." Singer Bjorn Baillie's melodic rasp recalls an early Bono. The album owes its edge to super-producer Tony Hoffer, who has also worked with Supergrass and Beck. You can download one of the tracks, "This Life," free at www.myspace.com/laroccamusic . La Rocca opens for French pop-rockers Phoenix at Slim's on Saturday.

I have the song "Sketches (20 Something Life)" on a comp around here, somewhere, but it hasn't stuck when I've heard it. Have to listen to it a few more times.

Edit: Link fixed.

I've never heard of this, but I'll have to hear it now.

Gimme a minute and I'll sendspace a song in this thread.

Here's the song "Eyes While Open".

http://www.sendspace.com/file/q2j7yi

Excellent song; I'll have to hear more, short jabs of guitar pop are needed more than ever these days.

wma?
what is my mac supposed to do with this?

I've been trying to figure out how to deal with these damn .wma files all morning. Apparently I need to dl i-tunes and be done with it.

Maybe not, but I can give you about 23,587 reasons to hate MO Rocca.

Can't play WMA but I listened to samples on itunes and it sounds like something i'd love.

I just installed i-tunes, so my .wma days are behind me. Here's an mp4 of "This Life", which has a New Radicals sorta vibe.

http://www.sendspace.com/file/2a1o44

Many thanks, Rads. I like this a lot, definitely a New Radical vibe; thus far I can't muster any reason to hate them, but I'll have to reserve judgement until I hear it all.

I don't hear much Bono, but do hear a heapin' helpin' of early Rod the Mod in this cat's voice. Hot Shot Debut on the LooGAR year end charts.

Finally got it today and I have to say, I really liked the whole album. Most of the songs on it could be singles actually, there's a buch of really catchy, fun songs. I'm gonna spin this again first thing tomorrow.

I'm on play #4 of the afternoon. It reminds a little of this album I have by Palo Alto (*cotton and Bloor erase their copies*) and definitely is what rads said in chat: What modern rock radio SHOULD sound like.

np: La Rocca - "Goodnight"

finally unearthed the copy that has been hiding in my office since this summer.

I got it a few weeks ago and its been on pretty heavy rotation in my car. It's a pretty good album and will likely be in my top 30, but it reminds me a little too much of Jet. That would be a reason to hate them.