CD Reviews: Doug Gillard

With contributions to the likes of Guided By Voices, Nada Surf and Death of Samantha under his belt, Brooklyn-based Doug Gillard can point to plenty of evidence of his chops as a guitarist.

Here, he tests his mettle as writer, singer and multi-instrumentalist, playing all but drums on an 11-track exploration of power pop, melodic psych-rock and punk, proving himself pleasingly competent at each.

The first half of the album, awash with smart, neatly formed pop songs, shadows the second half, which tails off with a couple of by-numbers rockers that lack the necessary bite.