The Unforgettable Fire-era U2 influence comes full-force on the next track, “Love No Longer”. Michael Aston even sounds a bit like Bono; not that that is a bad thing, though. He does what more lead singers today should do: sing with melody. And the guitars and bass, although hard-charging, find a way to dance skillfully around the intonations of his vocals adding fullness to the song.

Exploding Girls’ spirited vocals and tight, musical arrangement make for enjoyable listening until “Jenin”. It is not a horrible song. In fact the instrumental arrangement is quite dynamic. The vocals are strong and flamboyant and surround the mellifluent guitars and resonant bass-work to create a multi-layered composition. It is the chorus that kills the song. The jarring, cheerleader-like way in which the background vocalists chant the word ‘Jenin” is annoyingly jarring. Aston’s accompanying vocals make it more digestible, though; their loose form and soaring delivery are filled with unfettered emotion, saving the song from the fast-forward button.

“My Hands A Flame” and “2 Hungry Women” are reminiscent of Duran Duran, circa 1997’s Medazzaland -- a swirl of 1980s synth-pop, a touch of 1990s dance/techno and a dollop of laid-back R&B-style bass-line. Aston apparently has the gift of mimicking the vocals of the artists whose music he tries to emulate. I will be damned if he does not sound like Simon LeBon on “2 Hungry Women”.

He ends the nostalgic journey with “Wind and Fire”, a light-hearted, 1990s-like rock ballad with hints of funky, electric guitars and a simple, grooving hip-hop beats that make it rock more than most. Distortion and wah-wah effects add an ethereal touch that retains the listener’s attention. Aston’s easy, euphonic crooning that gently fades as the CD nears the end, rounds out the song.

Exploding Girls is a solid buy for anyone who wants to revisit the 1980s pop scene. As said before, there is nothing ground-breaking about this CD, but it does offer well-arranged classic new wave and glam-goth. Given both genres’ demise and Gene Loves Jezebel’s turbulent history, it is good to see that the band continues to press on. This album will hopefully tell fans that their life-force has not yet extinguished. Exploding Girls is scheduled for release this August.