Odds: Nest

Squeeze hasn't made an album this good in ages, but there are moments on Odds' new Nest when you swear you're listening to that old venerable pop group. But Odds frontman Steven Drake pays so much attention to crafting tightly constructed melodies and harmonies—not to mention a thick, lush mix—that you don't mind when songs like "Make You Mad" border on plagiarism. "Someone Who's Cool" and "Hurt Me" are impossibly infectious little pop songs, and there are lots more sprinkled throughout the album's 11 tracks. Nest is Odds' fourth album, and the band is on its second major label, but the group is still largely hitless. Listening to Nest, you realize what a shame that is, and wonder if there's an audience out there that still enjoys the glory of a meticulously crafted pop song. Let's hope so.