Friday 3-pack.

Calico Brothers-Tell it to the Sun. The New Zealand act which brought us one of 2008's top EPs makes their full length debut and picks up where they left off. Tell it the Sun is another serving of jangly popicana from the Calico Brothers, with a bit more of a country-rock orientation than the EP. You'll notice it with the banjos and harmonica on the title track and "Tread Carefully", while they lean to the pop side on the Beatleseque "Is There Anyone There?" and "Up for Air". Fans of The Jayhawks, The Meadows, Additional Moog and other similarly-oriented bands will love this one, as well of course fans of the original EP.

CD Baby | MySpace | iTunes

Matt Beck-Anything Which Gives You Pleasure. The pop/power pop genre has been a fertile one in recent years for sidemen, from Rusty Anderson to Craig Bartock to Bill Majoros (The Foreign Films) to Waz, and the latest sideman to step out is Matt Beck, who's worked with artists as diverse as Rod Stewart, Matchbox Twenty and Lisa Loeb and was picked by Bono & The Edge to provide guitar on an upcoming U2 musical. Needless to say, Beck has pop smarts and his debut disc is quite reminiscent of another sideman who's made a name for himself, Jim Boggia. "Nothing Ever Comes of It" has that Boggia/Brion/Penn feel, and "Wasted and Wanting" recalls George Harrison, slide guitar and all. Other highlights include the poptastic "Blessing in Disguise", the moody midtempo "Surround the Accident", and the beautiful ballad "Shelter Me". This disc will certainly give you pleasure.

CD Baby | MySpace | iTunes

The Beat Seekers-Dead Air Radio. This Nebraska band has a classic power pop sound that reminds me of fellow Midwestern power pop bands The Backroom and Ash Avenue as well as retro-poppers like The Rubinoos. Standouts include "All Dolled Up", which closes in a burst of frenetic energy, the infectious and pulsating title track, the "Lust for Life"-inspired "Passerby" and the mod sounding "Anything Won't Do". These guys put some rock'n'roll in their power pop, and they'll keep your toes tapping.

MySpace | iTunes | AmieStreet (currently $2.52)

EP of the Day, 3/18/08: Calico Brothers-God Left Town

Janglers of the world, unite! You have nothing to lose but $8! New Zealand's Calico Brothers are here, and they've unleashed God Left Town, a 6-song EP that's the best jangle pop I've heard around these parts in quite some time.

"Hundred and One" hooks you in from the start, touching all the aural pleasure centers, coming across as one of the best tracks George Harrison never wrote. From the opening slide guitar through the jangly 12-strings and the "aahhh" harmonies, it's 4:05 of pure bliss. The more languid title track follows, reminiscent in style of compatriot Neil Finn. "Do What You Have to Do" bounces back with more jangle and is a hooky delight, as is "Poor Little Girl". "Love You and Leave", meanwhile, is more Lennonesque (the piano-based melody reminds me of "God") than Harrisonesque, but works quite well on those terms, and the ballad "Blown Up Heart" closes things in Beatle-y fashion.

Best $8 you'll spend so far this year, and there's a early leader for 2008's top EP.

CD Baby | MySpace | SonicBids (stream all 6 tracks)