Album Review: Stag -Stag

 Stag

Stag

**and1/2 out of *****

Cruising sunny rock and roll with tons of breezy pop flourishes and inviting choruses make Stag's first full length a pleasant listen.  Short tunes to the point that make for fun car rides or spins at long lost soda fountains. 

Only one track sticks past the 3:30 mark as the tracks harken back to an early rock sound without the blues mixed in.  Tracks like opener "These Times", first single "Don't Lead With Your Heart" and "Don't Call Me" are breezy quick saccharine sounding romps. 

It is not all roses though as Stag blend those sweet sounds with some darker lyrics like on "Tiffany Rose" which joyfully sings about "ice cream capers", "radio singers and painted fingers" before a chorus that mourns a lost and internally wounded friend/lover. 

The band Stag brings to mind readily is Cheap Trick with their blatant pop sound but extra filling underneath. That combo is everywhere, but tracks like "Ides Of March" explicitly call forth the connection in a positive way.  Fans of pop flavored rock should enjoy Stag and even those who are not huge into this sound would find it hard to dislike the songs with their upbeat vibe.   

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Support the Band here, grab the album here and peep some tunes below:
"Don't Lead With Your Heart"