Sugary pop can be a difficult thing. Make it too sickly sweet, and you will give people stomachaches. Too bubblegum and it can end up a sticky mess. And if there is too much bitterness, well, that sort of takes away the purpose to begin with. Luckily once in awhile a band happens along that has found a solid formula, as Cleveland band Bears have done with their recent LP, Simple Machinery.

The formula isn’t quite as “simple” as the record’s name implies. Bears have taken a number of relatively straightforward lyrics about life and relationships, and set them in motion with the help of some fantastically understated organ hooks and delicate vocal harmonies that fall somewhere between the Shins and the Beach Boys. The resulting sound conjures a meeting of 1960’s saccharine Pop music with a more current Twee sound, and is pulled off by singers Craig Ramsey’s and Charlie McArthur’s guileless vocal arrangements.

The duo’s talent for melodies comes together the strongest in tracks like “Please Don’t,” and “What Makes Me Happy.” In both songs the organ’s catchiness is undeniable, and the vocals strike just the right chord between giddy and morose. The lyrics aren’t exactly Shakespearean, but then again, attaching a great deal of weighty sentiment to such airy pop songs could easily drag them down. Instead, Ramsey and McArthur abandon all pretense of solemnity and let the songs soar. Still, the songs aren’t all happy ones. The thing is though, even the sad ones are crafted in such a way that depression loses out to sunny optimism every time.

The problem with formulas is that often they seem too formulaic. For the most part Bears avoid this pitfall by throwing a few curveballs into the mix to keep it interesting. Towards the album’s middle they surprise the listener with the almost psychedelic “Letting it Go.” Later on we have another welcome sidetrack into the hymnlike “Everything I Need.” Where the record doesn’t quite click is the few instances when the band sounds like they popped the songwriting into cruise control. “Dolphin” is by no means a good song or a bad one, it is just sort of there sandwiched between a couple much better songs. “Our Time” finishes the album out on a pretty mediocre note as well, in fact in terms of quality; the song doesn’t really match up with the rest of the record.

As far as a full album goes though, 11 good songs and two boring ones isn’t really such a bad deal. In fact, I would say it is pretty damn good. I hope that Bears continue to keep working on their sound, and will be looking forward to see where they go from here.

Bears “Please Don’t” (mp3)
Bears “What Makes Me Happy” (mp3)

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