Kevin Bronson on September 8th, 2017

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Paper Pilots have carved out a niche in power-pop with a sound that combines West Coast blitheness with Britpop jangle. As displayed on last November’s “Automatic” EP, Paper Pilots mastermind Justin Bocchieri can’t seem to write anything without a memorable hook, and this week’s new single, the dancey “Playing Games,” is another example. As the title suggests, the self-produced song (mixed by Sylvia Massy), is about gamesmanship. “The song is about the incessant idea when dating that there’s someone else out there,” Bocchieri says, “even though you may have love right in front you.” As the percussive sighs in the song suggest, you should control your breathing, though not necessarily your hips.

||| Stream: “Playing Games”