Pontiac Flare - The Blueprint (2024) Hi-Res

Imagine dropping a power pop masterpiece online with zero fanfare. Confident move or total madness? Either way, Philadelphia’s Pontiac Flare has done just that with their debut album The Blueprint – and oh my, it’s impressive. This solo project from Nathan Tucker (of Strange Ranger, Cool Original, and First Rodeo fame) arrives seemingly out of nowhere. Tucker handles nearly all the instruments, with his buddy Tyler Bussey lending his piano skills on the opening track.

Tucker serves up a delicious brand of power pop and indie rock with nods to Alex Chilton, Evan Dando, Matthew Caws and Bob Mould, plus a dash of alt-country for good measure. The Blueprint manages to sound both timeless and modern – it could easily pass for a lost ’70s gem or a ’90s alt-pop classic, yet it fits perfectly alongside contemporary acts like 2nd Grade, Hurry, and Tony Molina. The songwriting here is top-notch, with Tucker showcasing a talent for putting the irony and bittersweetness of our daily struggles into lyrics that hit you hard.

It’s mind-boggling how an album this great can fly under the radar, but let’s change that, shall we? Tucker plans on taking Pontiac Flare on the road. His live band includes Melissa Brain from Golden Apples, Ben Polito from Big Slip, Negative World Status, and his solo power pop project Benny P (new record coming soon), and Sam Wenc (Post Moves).