Whether the members of Dealership know it or not, they have an iron grip on my attention. My work has decreased in accuracy, my personal life has become secondary... Christ, I'm even having a hard time writing coherent record review sentences. Well, that's probably not Dealership's fault (Not unless this record has been around since 1997 -- Ed.), but nonetheless I need a scapegoat to keep the editor off my back!

On TV Highway to the Stars, Chris G., Jane and Chris W. demonstrate their uncanny ability to write track after track of perfect pop melodies. However, this Berkeley-based trio isn’t a one-trick pony, as it purveys its pop messages with dexterous musical skill. Dealership steers though several sub-genres, injecting bursts of fuzzy noise (remember The Swirlies?) and perky riffs along the way. An initial foray though the CD will have you singing along to several tracks, showcasing just how infectious these tunes can be.

As major chords gush from track to track, the band fuses noisy breakdowns with soothing ballads, keeping the mood and tempo varied while the pop message stays consistent. At one moment, the pensive "California" will have you swooning to serene and seductive chords -- until "Domesticated" abruptly switches into a high-pop gear, nodding to Weezer with grinding bass lines and an uptempo beat. The falsetto choruses and jangly pop chords on "For Sale" bring Sloan to mind; indie-rock innocence informs the lyrics and an undeniably addictive rhythm pulsates at the song's core.

What makes Dealership so appealing is its simple musical arrangements. Once the band’s enticing chords and foreseeable choral breakdowns have stunned your brain, it’s a simple transition from passive listener to rabid fan. While the trio is happy pandering to the adolescent thoughts inside each of us, it can also interject a clever metaphorical anecdote full of intelligent phrasings, displaying the skillful writing that puts Dealership far above the one hit pop wonder hordes.

If you're a sucker for pop melodies or just need a good round of uplifting, sugarcoated tuneage, take heart; there's enough teen angst and witty pop culture references buried in these fourteen tracks to keep you mentally entertained for quite some time. No goofy schtick or holier-than-thou pretentiousness here -- just a penchant for harmonious pop that will delight anyone with a need for brainy pop underpinnings. Now if I could only tear myself away from TV Highway to the Stars and get some work done...