The Weightlifters is the brainchild of Chicago's Adam McLaughlin, former
guitarist for the Philly power pop band, Idle Wilds, a power pop band much
beloved from the 90s. "Last of the Sunday Drivers" is the first disc from
the band. It's an ambitious, self-released 6-song EP;
the music is moody and melodic with 60s tunefulness and 70s atmosphere
not retro, but not unfamiliar. Fans of Teenage Fanclub, Elliot Smith, New Pornographers, Apples In Stereo and Built To Spill, listen up! It takes chances and will surprise you,
but not just for the sake of doing so. "There is a bit of a Big Star sound here, but
more like Big Star by way
of Teenage Fanclub. It's really quite good stuff...". -AbsolutePowerPopBlog. “A six-song EP, Last of the Sunday Drivers has all the bases covered.
Chiming guitars? Check. Tambourines? Check. Swirling keyboards? Check. Na
na na's and woo hoo hoo's? Check and check! Not to give the impression
that the songwriting is overly derivative or imitative - while the guy
isn't sailing uncharted waters, the sea isn't exactly teeming with boats
either. Unlike most debuts (or follow up efforts, for that matter), every song has
earned its place on this record - there's not a skipper or a throwaway in
the bunch. The only apparent downside to Last of the Sunday Drivers is
that it isn't a long-player. And, as is often the case with exquisite pop
songs that aren't heard by enough people, the irony is unfortunate. This
is popular music as it should be. "A small debut collection of
exquisite indie pop songs that stand easily
with the best that The Pernice Brothers or New Pornographers have
offered to date." - CDReviews. Sounding like power-pop supergroup The Thorns, but lighter on the
harmonies, it comes as little surprise to find that Adam ‘weightlifter’
McLaughlin’s previous band, Idle Wilds, did the powerpop rounds in the
90s. Ticking the boxes marked ‘Teenage Fanclub’ (but then, what
self-respecting proper power pop boy wouldn’t) and ‘spirit of the west
coast, 1969’, Last of the Sunday drivers is as comfortable as a big
cushion. For the most part, the EP potters along merrily, full of twanging
guitars and optimism, only to break down in the last track ‘Oblivion
Shines’, with some shocking piano playing.”-AmericanaUK. EXTREMELY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
 Song #1 - mp3
Song #2 - mp3
Song #3 - mp3
Song #4 - mp3 | 
