Winds Will Change

Most purveyors of power pop either take the retro new wave route or pursue the supercharged Weezer/Fountains of Wayne style of hyper-produced hooks. Chicago-based tunesmith William Beckett provides a refreshing angle on the genre with his second EP, Winds Will Change. Over an acoustic six-string bounce, “Great Night” opens with his boyish voice sounding a bit like a Midwestern version of Supergrass’ Gaz Coombes. The background audience chatter in the verses makes the song seem like it was recorded live at a party—but when those people start singing along with the chorus, Beckett brilliantly becomes the party. The following “Warriors” rocks out much harder; its amplified guitars crank over electronic percussion that nicely contrasts with an organic-sounding snare drum. Beckett keeps things upbeat with “Scarlett (Tokyo),” an acoustic guitar–based number that rocks with the sophistication of early Elvis Costello (without succumbing to throwback tones) and the breezy elegance of a more upbeat Josh Rouse tune. Even the closing “Dig a Hole” sounds contemporary amid its Ric Ocasek worship.