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Reviews

www.notlame.com
No better words uttered! Van Go have unleased their latest album, Pop Your Heart Out and have confidently presented us with, by far, their strongest effort to date. These are sassy, memorable tunes gleaned from shiny, classic pop influences. Delivered with class and vibrancy, their sense of melody is augmented by sweetly buzzing guitar jangle and intertwined harmonies. The band themselves use the description of themselves as Cracker meets Old 97`s and that works, but the songs here are pure pop in the vein of not only those bands(when they went for the pop jugular), but we`ll throw out Eugene Edwards, Chris Von Sneidern, Easterly, The Gin Blossoms, The Vanity Project, Eytan Mirsky and Guster. A good third of the material here reminds me of the classic skinny tie power pop album from D.L Byron "This Day And Age" and the first Marshall Crensaw album, frankly. Listen to "Prettiest Girl" below as an example. And there`s plenty more where that came from, rest assured. Like their last effort, We Happy Few, this 4th release from Van Go is full of insistent jangle hooks, airy choruses and large doses of great thumping rhythm guitars ascend/decend all wrapped inside of memorable songs. There`s plenty of musical depth here with Van Go`s brand of resonating jangling guitars, passionate vocals, crisp guitar tones. A winner, through and through, don`t let this one slip by. Extremely Highly Recommended!

Chicago Tribune/Metromi: "Picture perfect pop"

Download.com Editor's Review
Just when you think American power pop has gone the way of Vincent's ear, his quasi-namesakes emerge out of Chicago wearing their hooks on their sleeves. Jangly guitars and tight, lovably nerdy harmonies are joined by, to quote the band, "drums so drum-like that we can't even think of another analogy."

Amazon.com
Editorial Reviews
Van Go are one of Chicago's premier Power Pop bands. These veterans of the local scene have previously released 3 CD's, garnering raves from the Power Pop website, NotLame.com and further acclaim, both nationally and internationally. Now, Van Go raise the bar for Power Pop bands worldwide with their dazzling new effort "Pop Your Heart Out", 16 upbeat, sparkling tracks loaded with energy, harmonies, and hooks aplenty.
Chicago Power Pop stalwarts, Van Go are back with their 4th release, "Pop Your Heart Out", 16 tightly arranged tracks that sparkle with energy and hooks. Performances are sharp, with superior production values that bring out the shimmering, jangly guitars, powerful rhythm section, and bright vocal harmonies.

Super Genghis reviewed by Illinois Entertainer
Van Go's Super Genghis is everything pop radio should be. Armed with super catchy hooks, great melodies and everything that goes with 'em, the band opens with the kinetic London Undeground and continues the impressive streak through the disc with sweet ballads like All I Ever Wanted and closing with the adolescent longing of OneSmall Voice.

BusyPet (Japanese pop music site) names "We Happy Few" Top 10 releases of 2002. Domo arigato!

Brand new, and quite possibly their best, release by these Mid-West poppers who represent very well! Equipped with the pop heritage and born-with knowledge that a formula of jangly, crunchy guitars, hook-filled songs and killer harmonies (a la Material Issue and more recently, Sketch Middle, exhibit) will drop pop fans to their knees! Pop your heart out is exactly what you'll do as you absorb this one! GREAT!!!!

We Happy Few reviewed by Not Lame
Simply, a great release to check out for anyone reading this. Fans of such Not Lame faves as Gin Blossoms, Blue Cartoon and Guster will trip over themselves to hit the `repeat` button. The band themselves use the description of themselves as Cracker meets Old 97`s and that works, as well. And can`t miss slight refrains of The Replacements. If pop had a Chris Issak styled crooner, we have one in lead singer Dave Sippel. The command inside this material and performances are consistently outstanding and shine strongly. Van Go`s melody-drenched songs are purely focused and front-and-center----and there`s a refreshing candy-coated edge inside their roots-jangle-pop heart. And they are never at loss to throw in the occasional `woo-hoo-HOO!" into their choruses. Insistent jangle hooks, airy choruses and large doses of great thumping rhythm guitars ascend/decend all wrapped inside of memorable songs. Grade: Solid "A" and we can`t say enough good things about this one except to add one of the best self-releases of 2002.

Amazon.com
I've been a fan of this great Chicago band for awhile now and can't say enough about 'em. They really know how to deliver and do it better than ever on their latest cd. From the harder-driving "Broken Church Revival" and "The 29th Crisis" to the lighter-fare "Dear You" and "(It's my) DNA", they have something for anyone who calls themself a rock fan. Whether your destination's pop, punk, or anywhere in between, you won't be sorry you took the trip. You may go in for the melodies, but don't miss the clever lyrics while you're getting hooked on the amazing arrangements and awesome beat. "Pop Your Heart Out" is a must have for 2005!!
Van Go Will Soon Rule the Planet, October 4, 2005 Wow. This record knocked my socks off --and I was wearing sandals at the time. Van Go hits you high with an incredible melody then body blows you away with their hard hitting musical attack. Again and again, song after song, Van Go delivers some of the catchiest, most infectious (though not in a bird-flu way)powerpop this side of Crowded House and Squeeze. "Prettiest Girl" is a song for the ages, folks from 8 to 80 will tap their feet along to its beautiful groove. "DNA" takes an unexpected lyrical turn while driving forward like a Sherman tank through a (formerly) peaceful Belgian hamlet. "Bus to Nowhere" evokes Cheap Trick playing chess against XTC. Now, I'm not sure what that means but you certain can't go wrong with either of those bands. Buy this record. Buy it now. These boys are going to big one day, big, I tell you. And you can say you were there...

We Happy Few review from Fufkin.com
The pop band, Van Go, recently released We Happy Few, and those who have listened to the disc certainly will be happy that they did! Van Go’s pop/rock reminds me a great deal of the Marlowes (whose own 2002 release is their best album to date). Among the best tracks on the disc are “This Is Not My House,” “We Happy Few” and “Stars Moon And Sun.” These just happen to be the most jangly tracks on the album; the whole disc is excellent.

Super Genghis reviewed by Not Lame
After their the excellent 2002 release "So We Go", we have here the previous one, every bit as great as the latest. And tuning to this alongside the new one, we might have to state boldly this may be one of the better indie power pop bands that so few pop fans are aware of. Fans of Gin Blossoms, no doubt will love/adore/embrace and snuggle up to this one, too. A bit rockier, meatier than So We Go. We like that. Chock full of the requisite hooks and melodies Not Lamers look for, the ringing guitars will recall The Records, The Replacements. Sweeping harmonies, shuffling rhythems and unmistakably classic guitar/pop moldings. Extremely highly Recommended.

Amsterdam reviewed by Not Lame
This is their debut album, which is out of print. This is housed in a slim-line case with carefully copied color art work (they ran out of the booklets) and the originally pressed CD, so it`s the real deal. Fans of such Not Lame faves as Gin Blossoms, Blue Cartoon and Guster will enjoy any of their albums, including this one. Van Go`s melody-drenched songs are purely focused and front-and-center----and there`s a refreshing candy-coated edge inside their roots-jangle-pop heart. And they are never at loss to throw in the occasional `woo-hoo-HOO!" into their choruses. Insistent jangle hooks, airy choruses and large doses of great thumping rhythm guitars ascend/decend all wrapped inside of memorable songs.