Source Victoria

Many have defined insanity as "doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results," which explains why Ben Franklin flew his kite in lightning only once. In pop music, you want that kind of insanity — plus repetition and reiteration on a theme, which, if done properly, can intensify a strong early result (i.e., Why build a sad little altar when you can erect a whole cathedral of hurt?). This is what Source Victoria achieves on its evocative debut, what the band and you will term "epic pop" in the future. To produce a Homeric epic simile of sorts on each track, some formula is necessary. Start with intense brooding about a troublesome chick or business partner, and if they can be interchangeable, even better. Then you'd better build up to a goddamn melodic chorus with a universal sentiment of the "I want you, you betray me, we need help" variety and a gorgeous resolve that you can't get out of your head until the next song bricks over it. Brendan Murphy has a rough-hewn voice that suits all three of those overriding yearnings, while the band and Grammy Award-winning engineer Chris Testa (Jimmy Eat World) never let up sonically, so you have a kind of Jeff Buckley/Foo Fighters merger. Check out their MySpace page to sample "opportunistic," which Jim Adkins remixed, and "Miss Spiritual Trampoline," which we like to think is what the skydivers on the cover are aiming for.