Theyyyy're baaaack! After a seven-year absence, Chewy Marble is back with the third disc and it's like they never left. Now on Nelson Bragg's SideB label, they serve up a disc of classic power pop that bridges the gap between Badfinger and Cheap Trick. "She Roxx" namedrops Britney Spears and Ozzy Osbourne while it, ahem, roxx; "Don't Look at the Sun" breezes by with effortless grace; meanwhile, the Brian Wilson-influenced "Cross Hatched World" is another standout, and "Picture The Finger" sounds like it could have come off of Badfinger's Straight Up or No Dice. All I can ask of them is that they don't make us wait another seven years for #4.

I’ve not reviewed (or heard) a Chewy Marble album since their debut release, back in 1997. There’s no mistaking it’s the same band - Beatles pop provided inspiration then as it does now - though they’ve acquired a certain maturity as songwriters, and the production on this latest effort is crisp and in parts, almost exhilarating. “She Roxx” launches proceedings with power chords and hooks aplenty, and an abundance of tongue-in-cheek humour. “Don’t Look At The Sun” calms things down, without sacrificing any appeal and “Cross-Hatched World” continues the mellow streak. “Somewhere Else” raises the stakes with its Byrdsian “Younger Than Yesterday” feel, and “My Monster” begins with what sounds like a classic John McGeoch guitar line before settling down. We’re not quite finished yet. “Hey Dad” is a poignant look at the loss of a parent, which hits doubly hard thanks to an acoustic setting and a straight-talking vocal, mixed high. It might just be the albums stand out moment.

Six years is a long time to write and polish songs, so fans are going to be expecting some spectacular stuff and...(drum roll)...I predict that fans will be very pleased with "Modulations"! All of the elements that fans would expect are present once again: super catchy songs, smart melodies, and lofty Lennon-esque vocals. They also delve into some psychedelic pop for a couple tracks (check out "Somewhere Else"). But what separates this CD a bit from the previous ones are the more personal and pensive lyrics. Additionally, a couple of intriguing instrumental jams break things up: "Mental Toothache", which has a bossa nova lounge feel, and "Moments", a sweet acoustic ditty.

We start things off with the infectious single, "She Roxx", an amusing mid-tempo pop ode to rock chicks. "Cross-Hatch World" is another instant favorite of mine, a pleasant and catchy number with a jangle pop feel. Some of the more melancholy tracks include a couple stripped down acoustic gems..."Flicker" covers the universal struggle to fit in - "When I'm in a room of people I wish I'd stayed at home", and "My Dad", a tear-jerking tribute to fathers that is one of the greatest since Bread's "Everything I Own".

But don't let me mislead you by highlighting the more serious and reflective pieces...the majority of the CD is light hearted and upbeat. An excellent release. Let's just now hope that a fourth CD will appear in less than 6 years this time!

After a long hiatus, pop whiz kids Chewy Marble are back in the game with Modulations.  Brian Kassan still writes wonderful tunes, Stu Forman still sings them with an understated grace and pop stalwarts such as Nelson Bragg, Jim Laspesa and Don Mogill lend instrumental support.  The addition of Kassan as an alternate lead voice lends power to obviously heartfelt compositions such as "Hey Dad," a love letter to Kassan's late father, and "Somewhere Else," a scathing breakup song.

Highly entertaining stuff! I think "Cross-Hatched World" may get stuck in my head for a long while. And some of my favorite people are on here...Jim Laspesa, Nelson Bragg...not to mention [producer] Steve Refling.

It's fantastic. Right up there with the previous Chewy Marble offerings and certainly a nice step forward...it shows some maturation in [Brian Kassan's] writing.