Given the duo's name, you'd be safe in imaging the Paul John like the Beatles, though as it happens Paul Myers and John Moremen come by their handle naturally, and their allegiance to the Fab Four manifests itself in intelligent but engaging pop songwriting and skillful harmonies rather than trying to stubbornly re-create the specific sound of their favorite band. Inner Sunset (the name refers to the neighborhood in San Francisco Myers and Moremen call home) is a great collection of smart pop tunes with plenty of jangle in the guitars and just the right amount of twists and turns in the melodies. The tuneful smarts of the songwriting often nods to the Beatles, but there are also echoes of the Kinks and Big Star in these melodies, and the lyrics communicate a maturity that's perceptive without seeming pretentious, leavened with a dash of self-deprecating wit that pops up when the writers feel the need to undercut themselves. (And "Long Way Back" delivers some punky power chords as the narrator laments the naiveté of his days when he thought Joe Strummer would save the world.) Myers and Moremen handle all the instruments themselves through the miracle of overdubbing, and they have the chops to give these songs a crisp, potent sound that's energetic when it wants to be and easygoing when it needs to be, and producer Allen Clapp gives them a valuable assist in the studio. (They also overcome the Achilles' heel of most acts who multi-track themselves into a larger group -- the drumming is actually good.) A small triumph of pop that's sunny but not overly sweet, Inner Sunset is clever, pleasing stuff that confirms the Paul John are gifted songwriters who also know how to make their work come to life in the studio. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

1		Inner Sunrise
2		Everything Comes Together
3		Long Way Back
4		Hungry Little Monkey
5		How 'Bout That
6		Inner Sunset
7		Brickland
8		When I Lost My Way
9		Can't Be Too Careful
10		Inner Sundown

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