Mark Bacino

Top of the World

Parasol Records

At 23 minutes, it’s short, but totally complete and very good adult rock/power pop, fun. It's smoothly played and sung, but that doesn’t mean slick, just mature, as are the relationship songs, like “Kaylee Hughes” or “Why Does This Woman Love Me?” The titles are cool too, like “Flop Of The World,” “He Never Saw It Coming (Accidental Death Of A Clown,” and the title song, which is an instrumental.

There is an awful lot happening in a short time, and not a wasted note or word. It's tight, concise, meaningful, I like the horns, and it's just a good ride all the way through. May every album this short be like this, pretty much perfect.

Andrea Weiss