Astoria

Marianas Trench's fourth full-length—a coming-of-age concept album based loosely around The Goonies—is an ambitious set of glossy ‘80s pop, danceable love songs, and theatrical rock. Opener "Astoria" does all three, swinging from over-the-top pop-rock to a slinky R&B groove to a Queen-esque FM radio bopper. Singer/songwriter Josh Ramsay struts his huge falsetto on the addictively upbeat "Burning Up”, gets tender on the lilting "Dearly Departed" and goes all-out movie theme on the triumphant "Who Do You Love”. But it’s the epic closer that brings it all home—and sets a high bar for modern pop.