If  the Weakerthans and The Strokes got drunk at a party and started jamming with the Pet Shop Boys while listening to old Violent Femmes albums, the result would sound something like local pop trio Jesse and the Dandelions, who have just released their debut full length CD ‘the Lion’s Tooth.’
‘The Lion’s Tooth’ CD includes most of  the songs from the Lion’s Tooth EP  which they released earlier this year.

Singer/guitarist Jesse Northey knows how to carry a pretty tenor melody — that’s where the Pet Shop Boys comparisons comes from, but the music is pure Strokes — clean, ambient, Brit pop style guitars and plenty of pretty melodies.
 It is tough to pick favourites off the CD because most of the tracks have a similar Strokes feel to them not to mention melodies.

‘Every Move a Picture,’ picks up the tempo and adds a little distortion as does  ‘Advice’ which has a pretty catchy chord progression and solo.

‘Bible and A Gun’ also stands out because it features  a cool banjo riff as well as the Necessities’ Steve Foord on harmonica. Another standout is ‘In Limbo’  which has a great flamenco sound.
The Violent Femmes influence come out on a slower number ‘Lights’ and on  crowd favourite ‘The Van Ssong, which is a hidden track on the CD.

Cd: The Lions Tooth
Band: Jesse and the Dandelions
Genre: pop/rock
Record label: none