"An enjoyable 5-song EP. Full of cheery pop tunes with lots of strong guitar leads. The songs are good with a lot of promise and a confident full sound you'd expect from a "bigger" band."

 

Pop Matters

The production is much fuller, the sound is a little more textured and that makes all the difference in the Vandalays’ latest studio offering, a five track EP--which is probably the way to go nowadays, considering the short attention span of music fans in 2006. By and large, these five tracks showcase the basic and solid pop-rock that the Vandalays specialize in.
Lyrically, a concept piece on familial bliss, it is a nice short (15:49) pleasing pop-rock excursion that never overstays its welcome.

 

nighttimes.com .: Kevin Matthews

Each song on this fine new EP is a straight-forward blast of pop/rock that hammers home bright chords, strong vocals and chugging melodies. To us, this is the most consistently entertaining batch of songs THE VANDALAYS have ever assembled. "Happy After Ever" is a winner to be sure, reminiscent of Ruth Ruth, The Smithereens and Barenaked Ladies. We also have a real soft spot for the family-provided background vocals on "Fairy Tale".
Featured Tracks: "Tracy", "Fairy Tale"
 

WhitsBrain.com

Ich weiss nicht, ob es Zufall ist oder nicht, aber jedes Mal, wenn die amerikanischen The Vandalys (ehemals The Quick) direkt über ein Mädchen singen, gelingt ihnen automatisch auch ein besserer Song. Auf ihrer aktuellen 5-Track EP ist das bei «Tracy» und «Ramona» der Fall. Die explizite Beschäftigung mit dem weiblichen Geschlecht scheint bei Songschreiber und Sänger Chris Cerasoli kreative Höchstleitungen auszulösen. «Happy after ever» ist insgesamt eher besser, als es der Debüt Longplayer «(Re) begin» war, zumindest was das Songwriting anbelangt. In Sachen Sound kommt die EP leider immer noch gleich wie der Vorgänger daher. Vor allem das dünne und zum Teil etwas einfallslose Schlagzeug klingende fällt negativ ins Gewicht. 8 ahf 10.

Robert Pally

In the days of so much sad sack indie rock, it’s nice to see that some bands have no qualms about sticking to tried and true, old school power pop. The Vandalays is such a band. Born from the ashes of the Chicago band The Quick, (not the same band who had an LP on Mercury Records in the 70’s)

The Vandalays specialize in tight, meaty, spirited pop. And you’ll find five such nuggets on their latest EP, Happy After Ever. Lead singer Chris Garasoli’s vocals never fail to be strong and assured, and his keyboards add a Graham Parker feel to songs like “Tracy.”

None of these songs depart from the formula but “Fairy Tale’ (as the title would suggest) does add some delicate flourishes such as chimes and the “Vandalays Children’s Choir” at the end of the song. Happy After Ever is a very fine EP which will cure the ills of anyone who’s had a bad day (or two).

David Bash

- Further Observations of a Jangly Music Fan

Mid-America

Music Magazine

“Bringing you the music that’s best

from the Midwest.”

 The Vandalays, formerly The Quick, put out several good EP’s.  The last, Mr. Deelish, was done with power pop godfather Jeff Murphy of Shoes producing several of the songs and adding backing vocals. 

 Their reconstitution as The Vandalays finds them back into the fray with one of the best CDs so far this year.  (re) begin is dubbed by the band as "The World's First Power Pop Concept CD."  Arguable but nonetheless a really good piece of the genre they seem to know so well.

 As musicians these guys have consistently put out good stuff.  With (re)begin The Vandalays have really taken their music to a new level and may finally get the recognition they deserve. 

- Roland Weiss
Mid-America Music Magazine

For a review of your band email Roland

  Midamermusicmag@aol.com

David Bash 
IPO