A pulse-accelerating debut is what you get with "Here's to Another Year" by Seattle's Mystery Action. A project started by the Boss Martians' Evan Foster, Mystery Action's sound fits right in between the classic British Mod noise of the Small Faces or the Who and the modern pop sensibilities of Radiohead or the Marvelous 3. Though recorded in modern state-of-the-art studios (Seattle's Vagrant and Private Radio), "Here's to Another Year" never forsakes Foster's fine pop sense and the result is 13 tracks as catchy as any early rock classic, yet which will sound right at home with your collection of the latest and "newest" rock records. Mystery Action's musicianship is also top-notch with excellent and soulful Hammond organ work by Nick Contento (surely inspired by Booker T. & The MG's); whopping bass lines by Marty 'Guvna' Sparks; frantic and furious drumming by Vic Hart and Jim Kruize and, of course, the bleeding guitars of Evan Foster - both melodic & powerful. Last, but not least, are Foster's vocals - with a big nod to Steve Marriott, Foster's singing is strong and all too soulful.

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