Games - Little Elise 7" - Gold Vinyl (/150)

Hozac (2014)

I feel like it's been an unusually long time since the last Games full length, though that just may be time slipping by faster as I get older.  That being said, I've been eagerly waiting the band's follow up and it finally arrived as the Little Elise 7" limited to 150 gold vinyl version on Hozac.  Hozac puts out a lot of records.  Some I love, some being a bit too scuzzy for my personal taste, but I always enjoy getting the gold vinyl version in the mail when I do order.

The Games 7" picks up where their full length left off, though I will say the guitars sound a bit fuller and more pronounced than last time.  To the band's benefit.  A-side "Little Elise" has a vocal melody in the verse that's eerily similar to "California Girls," but it's not a carbon copy all the way through with its call and response bridge that builds into a chorus complete with all of the "aahhhs" and "ooohs" that I'm looking for in great pop music.

B-Side "About Me"is another bouncy pop song to add to Games' catalog of hits. The jangle on the guitar is turned way up along with some fun lead guitar noodling going on through the chorus.  Both songs are excellent and I can only hope it's not as long of a wait to hear what Games comes out with next.  Hopefully it's a new full length.

Games - "Little Elise":

https://soundcloud.com/hozac-records/games-little-elise

Games - S/T LP - Gold Vinyl (/200)

Games - S/T LP - Gold Vinyl (/200), a photo by Tim PopKid on Flickr.

HoZac (2012)

The Games LP is one that I wish I had an opportunity to spend more time with before I made by best of 2012 list. That's always the risk that is run when an album comes out so late in the year, you're up against records that people have had the chance to get comfortable with. I'm just hopeful that folks don't overlook this Games LP, because it's a hell of a record.

Games play guitar pop not too dissimilar from Gentleman Jesse or bands like the Wrong Words. Glimmering guitar, heavy on hooks and a real 50's & 60's laid back vibe. The songs are catchy without sounding sappy and it's the sort of record that becomes more rewarding with repeated listens. I had high hopes going in as I loved the band's 7" that came out on Rob's House records and I was not let down. An excellent guitar pop record.

Games - Put Down That Gun:
soundcloud.com/hozac-records/games-put-down-that-gun