The Boo Radleys

Wake Up! (Creation)
by Chris Adams

This album was written by four lovable lads from Liverpool. It’s also held the number one position in the British charts. Sound familiar? In fact, there’s more than just a passing resemblance to the Beatles on many of these songs. There’s also more than your fair share of Squeeze here, too, without that je ne sais quoi that makes Squeeze so unbearably annoying. This is obviously The Boo Radleys attempt at making a “perfect pop” album, and they’ve come pretty damn close. Every song is ludicrously catchy, laden with instantly memorable hooks and choruses, drenched with a sense of melody that rivals McCartney’s when he was still good. “Joel” sounds like it was ripped off from The White Album, and is no less enjoyable because of it. A perfect summer album. Rush out and purchase immediately.