Britpop seems to turn up in the strangest places, like Philadelphia for instance. That is where LemonLime originate from, and way back in 1998 they set about proving to the world they could write excellent pop tunes by releasing an all too short four track E.P called ‘Without Her’.
The tracks are direct descendants of what was so great about the songwriting chemistry of Lennon and McCartney. Pure, pretty pop tunes with interesting guitar work and harmonies. Track one is the title song, ‘Without Her’, and starts by rhyming ‘dilemma’ with ‘Alabama’, it is the most tongue in cheek song, played for fun with sprightly spunky guitars (I must have been in the US too long, I can use that word without giggling like a 12 year old) and great sing along harmonies. A great modern three-minute power pop song.
Second is ‘Blind’, another simple little pop song, but with a more retro feel, it has a very 1960s use of guitar and vocals along with some very effective, if simplistic lyrics. As with the opener you cannot help but be awed by the power of even the most basic of harmonies if they are pulled off correctly. The production throughout this E.P is excellent, and praise must go to the production talents of Fran Smith of ‘The Hooters’, nice to see those guys are still working. I wonder if they get royalties from the restaurant chain?
They slip even further into the Beatles territory with ‘Lost Along the Way’ which is the next track. They attempt to play the voices off against each other in a pretty obvious tipping of hats to Lennon and McCartney, and even though they are a little way off from that territory it is still a very strong effect. It is also the longest track on display at an epic three minutes and fifty-one seconds.
Rounding off this all too brief entry into the world of LemonLime is ‘Love Letters’, a hybrid of '60s and '90s Britpop. Great guitar work and snazzy drumming makes you want to see images of screaming girls and Ed Sullivan introducing them to the American public.
With a total running time of under fourteen minutes there is precious little material to make a real judgment on LemonLime, but from what gems they do see fit to pass on to us one can only hope for great things if these guys ever get around to releasing a full album. If you like you pop served up simple, short and influenced by ‘The Beatles’ then give this E.P some attention.

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