Like most Boston- based pop bands, the Gigolo Aunts have found their niche in the Big Star/ Badfinger clique of clean- cut, college- educated, pop- lovin' white fellers. You know, they're the kind of guys who rock with just enough gusto to keep from being unbearable fruitcakes. On Minor Chords and Major Themes, the Aunts' exorcise their minor demons with some major '70s radio- hit choruses, open- hearted bubble- gum wisdom, upstanding Seals and Crofts harmonizing, and the occasional cheese- whiz effects pedal. There's also a nice twin- guitar rapport between lead singer/ guitarist Dave Gibbs and lead guitarist John Skibic. Skibic occasionally tears ass around Gibbs' acoustic chording with a typical early- '70s grab- bag of guitar methodology. First, he'll throw some Joe Walsh at you, then quickly make his way around to the Sugarloaf side of things.

Minor Chords and Major Themes kicks off in rousing classic rock fashion with the bright, Big Star twinkle of "C'mon C'mon." "I'm just stuck here in this stupid age," sings reluctant 21st Century Boy Gibbs, "and I'm goin' through an awkward phase." He's got one of the more pleasantly familiar- sounding voices around: you detect hints of Roddy Frame, Alex Chilton, Difford and Tillbrook, Scott Miller of the Loud Family and Game Theory, as well as other sensitive, literate, gently- rocking Anglos. And by the way, when Gibbs breathes a line like, "I'm goin' through an awkward phase," it's pulled off with just enough conviction so that you won't be driven to embark on a neighborhood killing spree. Of course, the Aunts are signed to ultra- sensitive trust- fund kid Adam Duritz's record label. This fact may or may not be reason enough to wait for the Aunts after a show with Louisville Sluggers and broken malt liquor bottles.

Of course, Dave Gibbs' songwriting is chock full of unashamedly wistful emotional moments. He's ultimately hopeful, but does seem to love those weepy reflections on lost youth, and the dashed hopes that clutter the subconscious like so many crushed beer cans. He obsesses over lost time: letting go of the past, learning from the past, pondering an uncertain future. The songs point toward a longing for the brighter, happier days of youth. Ah, very sweet. Don't worry, though, the Aunts can occasionally have fun and successfully deal with semi- serious issues at the same time.

There's the weightless, giddy feel of "Everyone Can Fly" in which Gibbs' voice and acoustic guitar give the song a nice passing- a- joint- around- the- campfire intimacy. And maybe you, my friend, are a twenty- something Ivy- educated pup suffering from post- collegiate stress disorder, and long to be back in the arms of your supportive parental units-- much like the poor lad who's lost sight of his dreams in "Everything is Wrong." (Dig these lyrics: "Now I wanna go back/ Give up this fight/ I'm feeling weak, too tired to sleep/ And nothin' feels right.") "Super Ultra Wicked Mega Love" is equal parts Badfinger and James Gang. It's sort of an awkward satire on youth culture's predilection for both hip superlative prefixes and hopelessly fucked- up relationships. And Lindsay Buckingham may as well have written the California country- rocker "The Big Lie." Realistically, Minor Chords and Major Themes lacks about two or three more solid stick- to- your- ribs tracks to make it more than just a decent first effort in five years.

Sure, these guys' shiny power- pop and fragile acoustic balladry will light your way through the little traumas; the dull, everyday existential sort of heartache. But don't count on them to get you through any real pain or suffering-- you know, deaths in the family, girlfriend discovers your blow- up doll, your faithful pooch gobbles an entire stash of ill- placed Hershey bars and dies a chocolately, cancerous death. For that, you'll have to look to psychologically darker stuff-- early Sebadoh, or Sucidal Tendencies. For your troubles, Lou Barlow offers you the empathetic warm bath and rusty razor blade. Dave Gibbs, on the other hand, might give up a little St. John's Wort and mineral water, strum on an acoustic guitar, and ease your tensions with a lullaby about having a weird moment in third grade gym class.

-Michael Sandlin