Poppin' Up Again. The Yum Yums

How long does a review need to be? A good question. I like to use words to express what an album does to me and can be quite lengthy about certain passages I particularly like. For an album like Poppin' Up Again I could be very brief: Perfect pop-rock? Check.

Norway's The Yum Yums' band name sounds like song title 'Chewy Chewy', Ohio Express' 1969 hit single. Musically the band fonds itself somewhere between The Monkees and 1980s powerpop. The blend is simply perfect. I can't help but asking myself, how is it possible to write such perfect pop songs in 2024 in a genre where everything was said and done already decades ago. Three chords and perfect pop. This is what The Ym Yums deliver for 17 songs. Okay, it may be a bit much seventeen songs but who cares when they are this good.

Do you need references? The Monkees were already presented. I would look at fellow Rum Bar Records bands like Watts and The Shang Hi Los or Muck and the Mires, where the anecdotal way of making music of the latter band is missing here. From there we move to bands like The Knack or The Outfield. The Yum Yums have it all down to a t and then come in the harmony vocals. Like the best bands from the 60s, the Norwegians sing together like there's no tomorrow. Like the Dutch band The Maureens, the harmonies are mastered superbly by The Yum Yums.

I will not write more, as hearing is believing. Poppin' Up Again is a fun album that deserves being listened to. Fun music executed totally serious to ensure the best album possible. Both done? Check.

Wout de Natris - van der Borght

You can listen to and order Poppin' Up Again here:

https://rumbarrecords.bandcamp.com/album/poppin-up-again