This EP makes me smile.

Sure, it's wonderful music in the vein of Defiance, Ohio, the Mountain Goats and Andrew Jackson Jihad, but that's not it. No, what I really love about this release is that I can tell the band had an absolute blast recording it. You will not find a single fake or forced delivery anywhere in here.

Opening track, "The Kids Will Be Alright, Eventually", has lead singer Dan Faughnder painting such a vivid picture of frustration and woe that it's hard not to be moved. Throw in Sam Juneman's beautifully played violin and you're sure to be sobbing like a baby in no time. Every song on The Arrested Cats is wonderfully crafted, compelling and catchy.

Though the album is laced with tales of heartache, homesickness and bummers, it is far from being a depressing romp. Tracks like "Valemtimes Is Serious Times" are accompanied so perfectly with gang vocals and harmonica that you can't help but smile. It's not easy to turn a song about spending Valentine's Day in a drunken haze into something enjoyable, but this two-piece band from San Diego have pulled it off gracefully.

Clocking in at just a little over 12 minutes, it's a fairly short venture, but it will easily rope you in for multiple listens. These are songs you will shout at the top of your lungs, grinning from ear to ear, with your arm around a stranger at a show. It is folk punk, after all.

Do yourself a favor and download their album on their Bandcamp page. It's tons of fun, memorable and the perfect album to play while driving down the freeway on a shitty day. Plus it's free and has a grown-ass man wearing a tiger costume on the cover.

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The Arrested Cats EP