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Everybody Else: Everybody Else Label: The Militia Group Released: 2007

Have you ever heard a new band and thought to yourself, “this reminds me of something but I can’t quite put my finger on it?” Usually that means the band’s many influences have bubbled to the surface, but they still have their own identity. Then, if the songs are actually good, it’s a bonus. I give you the latest example of this – Los Angeles rock trio Everybody Else. Their name stems from a Kinks B-side, and not from the fact that they sound like, well, you know.

Everybody Else’s self-titled debut is infectious to the point of being sinful, and that’s not meant to be sarcastic. This is just a no-frills rock band that doesn’t follow trends, styles, or anything else resembling Fall Out Boy. Rather, they offer a refreshing take on pop/rock. There are hints of Elvis Costello, Marshall Crenshaw, Butch Walker, Prince, The Jellyfish…. okay, the influences are endless, but the sum total of hooks on this album is not.

Lead singer/guitarist Carrick Moore Gerety knows how to use both his instruments, and that’s evident from the start as he rocks out on “Meat Market.” “Faker” is like a rhythmic romp of a pop song, and to pull from the above references, is like Andy Sturmer (of Jellyfish) fronting Costello’s Attractions. You’d think “In Memoriam” would be a downer of a song, but you quickly learn that Everybody Else doesn’t know how to produce a track that isn’t an upbeat hook-fest. “Makeup” sounds like Butch Walker fronting the Jackson 5 – really. It’s one of the catchiest songs you’ll hear in a long time. There are not many clunkers on here, but the blazing rocker “Without You,” the 90-mile-an-hour pop ditty “Say Goodbye,” and the piano-driven, melody-drenched “The Longest Hour of My Life” also stand out.

You might find it challenging, albeit annoying, to try and peg what Everybody Else sounds like. Instead, do yourself a favor and just enjoy this for what it is – a really good pop record, and one that doesn’t pretend to be something it’s not or try at all to be derivative. These guys just set out to rock out and have fun, and the fact that they do that while staying true to the craft of songwriting is a bonus for everyone.