I’ve been throwing jelly and ice cream at the walls throughout the duration of this record. I’m wearing sunglasses indoors and dreaming of a world where The Barracudas became not just a tongue-in-cheek footnote in the great powerpop textbook, but the most universally adored band in the world. Where The Archies started wearing skinny ties and pouring cheap lager into their amps just to see what happens. Where Teenage Fanclub start and end every day rubbing a little dab of speed on their gums. Where Ohio Express are made to play Yummy Yummy Yummy in the middle of a drag race. Look, it’s just really good fun, ok? First Base are from Toronto and this second album sees them picking up where their 2013 debut LP left off: pop as hell and punk as fuck. Not That Bad is the sound of a band stretching out and bettering itself without losing sight of what was so fucking great about ‘em in the first place. A worthy sequel, a damn fine introduction, whatever. It just rules. Now excuse me, I have walls to clean before flipping the vinyl again and dropping the needle back at the start… Aww, who am I kidding? The walls can wait. Will Fitzpatrick.