Dig into Sidewalk Atlas’ string-laden power-pop effort Stealing Time

You wouldn’t expect a pop band to open an album with a lush piano and strings instrumental track. But expectations didn’t stop Philly’s Sidewalk Atlas from doing so with “At Least We’re Here Together”, and the result is actually quite lovely. The band serves up a catchy yearning-for-yesterday style tune with “Remember When” before diving into the sing-along story of “Margot”. Throughout the album, they offer classic pop melodies and even a little blues (on album standout “Gone for Now”).

The piano and strings take full command yet again on breakup ballad “City’s Not Enough” preceding the sparse, acoustic bliss of another mostly-instrumental track “Requiem Aestatem”. The rest of the record stays pretty mellow with low-key tracks “(For Your Consideration) a Car Breaks Down in Bryn Mawr” and “Terra Calls Me Back”. Overall, Stealing Time is a likeably laid-back record that will definitely appeal to fans of The Format and Ben Folds Five. Get a free download of “Gone for Now” and watch an album sampler below. Sidewalk Atlas plays Impact Hub Philly on February 13th and Fergie’s Pub on February 16th .