THE REPUTATION s/t 

1. Either Coast 2. The Stars of Amateur Hour 3. Misery by Design 4. She Turned Your Head 5. This Town 6. Alaskan 7. The Uselessness of Friends 8. The Truth 9. For the Win 10. Almost Blue Band: The Reputation CD: The Reputation 

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The Reputation, featuring Elizabeth Elmore as frontwoman, is a melodic pop-rock band with a pinch of punk. One can't help but notice that their sound seems perfectly balanced. While many of the songs are bass-driven, it does not overpower the guitar, drums, vocals, etc. Elmore's voice and the crystalline guitar combine with the rest into a perfectly cut diamond of sound. 

From the fresh opening "Either Coast" through the Elvis Costello cover at the end, The Reputation keeps you wondering what is next. The uptempo pop songs fit perfectly among the more dramatic-sounding slow songs, like "The Uselessness of Friends", which begins with a piano part like that of the "Young and the Restless" theme, but proves to be much more comforting. The occasional horns and keyboards only serve to add greater fullness to the standard mix. 

"The Stars of Amateur Hour" is a savory track of medium pace, while "The Truth" emits a little bit of fire, contrasting with the cooler songs. "She Turned Your Head" is somewhat reminiscient of The Cure's "Lullaby" in some parts, though lacking in cheesy spider references. It creates yet another facet of the eclectic whole. 

This album is like iced tea on a hot summer afternoon. Looking for something to fill the silence when you are doing your homework or sitting on the couch after a long day's work? The Reputation will perk your ears with melody, impress you with intelligent wording, surprise you with some unlikely driving force, then leave you in awe as you ride their wave to the coast. While it has its fast and slow parts, the melodic quality may force me to rotate this album with Sarah McLachlan and Woodwinds & Water for my own lullaby music.