The Rembrandts
were one of the lucky few. Not many in their generation of power pop bands had a hit, let alone one that sustained them for decades, which is precisely what happened when the duo of
Danny Wilde
and
Phil Solem
co-wrote "I'll Be There for You," the irrepressibly jangly theme song for Friends. Maybe
the Rembrandts
couldn't capitalize on the success in the '90s, but in 2019, Friends is still a global phenomenon despite being off the air for 15 years, and
Wilde
&
Solem
have enough of an audience that they can release
Via Satellite
, their first album in 18 years. Perhaps their voices are slightly weathered and lack youthful exuberance, but the duo still sound like
: they still play cheerful, sturdy classicist guitar-pop, anchored in '60s traditions but with a sensibility that belongs to the cheerful college-rock underground of the '80s.
claim to have been working on the songs that form
for years, and the album bears this out. From its construction to its unfussy arrangements, it's a handsome affair, filled with melodies that are charming enough upon first listen but seem stronger upon repeats. In other words, it's a grower, and
do not shy away from moving at their own relaxed gait, unbothered by either the notion of pop hits or hipness. All this means is that
is the kind of friendly, tuneful record that will appeal to anybody who has wondered what
have been doing for the past 20 years. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine