It has been two years and eight months since I last had the pleasure of writing about The Cheap Cassettes. I have missed them. January 2022 seems like a lifetime ago. Imagine a world where The Bear, "Good Luck, Babe!", and ChatGPT did not yet exist. Imagine a moment when the idea that a human could eat 83 hot dogs in ten minutes was still just a dream. Imagine a time when I could read the nutritional information on a can of prebiotic soda without putting on glasses. Human progress marches on, as do The Cheap Cassettes. Charles, Kevin, and Mike, now joined by the legendary Scott Sutherland, are about a month off from releasing a new album that's gonna make your head explode. It's called They'll Never Forgive You For Pop, and it's a freaking masterpiece that breaks the mold of what a guitar pop album is supposed to be. Out now on Rum Bar Records is the album's first single, "Bad Xerox." I can't quite say it's not indicative of the album since the album does have its more conventional power pop moments. But that's the beauty of The Cheap Cassettes. They can churn out a catchy power pop rocker like this that will have you tearing up the dance floor and feeling like the lyrics were written just for you. But they don't need to write a whole album of songs that sound just like it. "Bad Xerox" is 142 seconds of perfect pop and a fine choice for a single that will hook you onto an extraordinary album. This song is a hit on any continent, and all you kids are sure to dig it. Perhaps they'll never forgive you for pop, but they'll be still be singing along and dancing in their underwear when they think no one's watching. Alright alright!
