1977 — 1977

Three great things came out of 1977: Star Wars, The Love Boat and the vibe this band subscribes to.

1977 is predominantly a solo project put together by Toronto's Julie Kendall (formerly of Bellevue), but she has enough friends playing with her that this LP comes across as a full-band effort.

It's fitting that the album's package was designed using pieces of artwork from The Beach Boys' Love You (released in 1977). There are definitely hints of Beach Boys-style pop here, along with a healthy dose of Partridge Family sunshine. For more current comparisons, look towards The Salteens and The Heartbreak Scene.

On its surface, 1977 is 30 minutes of pure pop fun. Beneath the shimmering exterior of these songs, there's a slightly sinister, almost creepy undertone that makes this debut better suited to thunderstorms than beach parties.