The 80's aren't dead, they've just been hiding in Allston, MA. Who knew? Lifestyle has turned out what can only be hailed as a wonderfully danceable EP, circa early 1980's. However, there are some differences that will quickly clue the listener into the fact that this CD really was created in 2001 and not many years prior. For starters, there's the fact that all the copyrights are registered for the year 2001….and that's about it. Actually, the lyrical content allows this disc to showcase absolutely great music while keeping a very light, sometimes silly mood. Running from unreturned phone calls to overwhelming biological desires, Lifestyle runs the gamut of delightfully cheesy and ironic topics. The rock-solid lyrical content, veined with wackiness, helps this disc to really hold its own.

While it's undeniably fun to sing along with these tunes, step back for a moment and just listen. You don't hear anything, do you? Of course you don't. You're just reading an article, there's no music in this, jeez you people are gullible. Now, if you did have this CD playing, you would hear some of the best synth-pop programming in a good number of years. Bouncy, floating synth lines rise above the quintessential 4/4 dance beats to carry the songs into pure choral bliss. The verse's harmonies lead naturally (although predictably) to strong, energy laden chorus that are guaranteed to make you tap your feet and bob your head at the very least. Particularly infectious is the chorus to "My Favorite Song." This is your classic one-word chorus (la), but married to the driving background, it is a thing of beauty.

If it's a pick-me-up that you need, look no farther than this CD. It's six tracks worth of pure synth-pop bliss, you just can't go wrong with it. This is definitely a must-have for anyone who likes their music bouncy and sometimes goofy. A true gem of a CD.

Check out Lifestyle here