Now Now Now (Honey Bucket, 2013)

The third release from the Long Beach, Cal.-based Haymaker is country pop/rock filtered through the '60s British Invasion. The Beatles' influence appears strong on several tracks with sweet pop harmonies, particularly Different Girl, which similar to such Beatles' tracks as I'm Looking Through You and Girl deals with complicated relationships ("I see you with your friends the way you sparkle and shine/You're a whole different girl when I'm not on your mind"). Threadbare Heart explores unrequited love ("I saw that girl and wondered what I'd say/She crossed the street and then just turned away") and seemingly has a veiled reference to the famous Jacaranda Club ('The jacaranda blooms stuck to my shoes/It made me think I got the purple blues") where the young Beatles played in Liverpool.

Equally prominent is the Rolling Stones' influence as displayed on the rocker Note To Self, which addresses the ill effect of insecurity ("Life's been dragging you down low for a long long time/The thought keeps haunting you that you're paying for some unknown crime"). I'm Not Talkingis another rocker on which Mike Jacoby's vocals nicely mimic Mick Jagger, while the mellowLie In Bed recalls such Stones' ballads as Wild Horses and Far Away Eyes.

The title track and Stomp the Gas are more straight forward country-rock. Produced by Ed Tree (Spencer Davis Group), the musicianship is solid throughout, led by Jacoby's impressive lead guitar work nicely supported by J.W. Surge (rhythm guitarist who shares lead vocal and songwriting duties with Jacoby), bassist David Serby and drummer Dale Daniel. Though Jacoby and Surge may not be the next Lennon /McCartney (or Jagger/Richards) "Now Now Now" is an enjoyable effort.