The National Convention
The Sexy Sound of The National Convention
(Sweatervest)

A long list of Valley players joined forces with Easthampton's Eric Poulin to create this four-song EP (including J.J. O'Connell, Anne Pinkerton, Mark Schwaber, Jose Ayerve and more). The National Convention's first disc was an unusual effort, a sort of newly created artifact of a bygone era, a pop record shining with glittery '70s production values. This more modest effort still offers plenty of that kind of polish. The first track, "the saddest boy in town," is a near-flawless piece of pop driven by aching vocals, a melody that elegantly ensnares the unwary, and unintrusive but spot-on accompaniment. It's also the least explicitly retro track. The other songs float along with a dreamy old-school sensibility, and the whole is pleasing, although the bar is set so high with the first tune that the others never equal its just-right old/new passion.  —James Heflin