Buddy Love

Buddy Love sounds like the exact moment when the raw energy of 1977 punk collided with the melodic obsession of the 1960s British Invasion. It is music built on a foundation of jangly, overdriven electric guitars and vocal harmonies that feel both earnest and slightly frantic. There is a distinct 'New York' edge to the sound, a nervous caffeine-fueled rhythm that keeps the songs moving at a breakneck pace even when the subject matter is classic teenage romance.

What makes them distinctive is the way they bridge the gap between the Alan Milman Sect's punk aggression and a more polished, almost surf-influenced pop sensibility. You can hear the slapback echo of 1950s rockabilly fighting for space alongside the synthesizer-flecked textures of early 80s new wave. It is the sound of a band convinced that the perfect three-minute pop song could change the world, played with the intensity of people who spent their nights at CBGB's.

Start with their 1982 self-titled LP for the definitive statement of their sound. It captures the transition from the gritty Long Island punk scene into the bright, hook-heavy world of power pop. If you want to hear their more eclectic, unreleased side, the 'Sheila and Other Delights' collection offers a fascinating look at their evolution and the sheer variety of their songwriting.