If this were 20 years ago (okay, fine, more like 25), Fly Molo would have everything it takes to be all over alternative radio: the loud-soft dynamics of Nirvana by way of the Pixies, the fat power-pop hooks of Nirvana by way of Cheap Trick, the tribal drums and jam band white funk of just about everybody, not to mention a little blurry jangle pop from R.E.M. punked up like Hüsker Dü. There is of course a little angst in there that could be Trent Reznor or maybe Kurt Cobain, but it’s all smoothed out in the mix.

This is in no way a slight on what these guys do with their debut EP; in fact, it’s to their credit that the seams are pretty much invisible. This is pure alternative ear candy, but it’s the good stuff, like Stone Temple Pilots at their peak. Fly Molo is a pop-rock band at heart, wisely sacrificing the strutting cock-rock for the fat hook, and with a few production tweaks the six songs here could even be updated for a new century. As it is now, it’s at least balm for those of us who didn’t realize how much they’d miss Scott Weiland.