The Bablers

Like The First Time

Big Stir Records

This happy, rocking power pop from a country that should be known more for music, Finland, sounds at first like a late 60s Beatles update, but that sound fades and leaves the listener aware that the band have their very own sound, and a good one at that.

The lyrics are happy love songs, mostly about falling in love, or wishing you could fall in love. The one exception is “Mr. King,” a political song which may be about Trump, or not. All the songs are pleasing to hearand very well written.

So if love brings you down, try these songs to pick you up, and maybe one day you’ll fall in love with love too, with this album as your soundtrack. Or if you just want a good Beatles update, or just want good music, period, and can decide yourself about influences, this will do nicely.

Andrea Weiss