Kissing Like It's Love

The Voyces' Brian Wurschum doesn't have the most powerful voice in pop music, but the way he uses it is indeed quite appealing. With the musician often registering in the higher range, the singer seems to nail a sweet, sugar-coated and cavity-inducing pop gem like the title track perfectly. Cheerful, bouncy and infectious, the tune sets Kissing Like It's Love off on the right course, bringing to mind equally adept power pop maestros like Jeremy Morris and more obscure bands like Cool Blue Halo. Sweet is an adjective best describing most of the album, especially the slower but pretty "Hair Up High" that has gorgeous harmonies from Jude Kastle. The oddly titled "You're in Charge of Driving the Narcotics Trolley, And You're Doing an Excellent Job" is a quirky but pleasing bit of pop. Breezy California pop would be another apt description of the songs, especially "Call It Home," which seems to conjure up images of Bread and Cat Stevens. Fans of Roger McGuinn and Tom Petty circa "Wildflowers" would seek comfort and joy in "Humming" which definitely causes the listener to hum along without much coaxing. The album closes with two lengthier pieces, including "The Canyon Ladies" which starts off with a spacy feel before Wurschum brings it back into his niche. The same can be said of the lullaby-like "Where the Little Girls Still Throw Roses."