Davenport

Although just a debut seven-song EP, Davenport's self-titled release is an excellent exercise in blending much of today's mainstream power pop into one easily palatable release. This doesn't mean that Davenport merely recycles their influences, however, but they effectively spit out parts of Ben Folds Five, Self, and Weezer without sounding at all like retreads. The strongest influences is that of Ben Folds Five, especially on the piano-oriented numbers like "This Married Life" and "Kaleidoscope." Unlike that band, however, Davenport throws plenty of guitars into the mix to create murky rockers like "I Don't Remember" and Elliot Smith-style ballads like "I Can't Die" and "This Time." For more variety, there's the rock-rap of "Sticks and Stones," which sounds remarkably like — believe it or not — G. Love and Special Sauce. But seriously, being compared to other bands has never been so good because Davenport manages to take all of what's good from these acts and throw in a good deal of their own style, and that is quite an appetizing premise indeed. If these guys can produce an EP like this, just think of how excellent a full-length could be.