Every quality band has a member who has worked in a record store. For METZ, the bold noise rock trio that has released five albums on Sub Pop between 2012 and 2024, it was singer and guitarist Alex Edkins. Selling indie rock and hardcore records at the record shop in his hometown during his studies, Edkins became a passionate student of rock 'n' roll, from the psychedelic 60s to the DIY era of the 90s and beyond. Hoopla, the catchy and melodic second album of his solo project Weird Nightmare, brilliantly and originally blends these influences, revealing his musical finesse. Overflowing with catchy melodies, Hoopla is that tape that plays on repeat in the car, the true soundtrack of summer. Both innovative and nostalgic, Hoopla is sure to charm you. The self-titled debut album of Weird Nightmare, self-produced and resolutely lo-fi, was recorded at home during the pandemic and released by Sub Pop in 2022. Weird Nightmare showcased Edkins' indie rock sensibility, with a penchant for irresistible melodies and catchy choruses. On his new studio album, Hoopla, co-produced with Jim Eno of Spoon and recorded at Seth Manchester's Machines with Magnets studio, Edkins explores new dimensions for Weird Nightmare. New musical textures, such as piano, bells, and castanets, blend with Edkins' straightforward writing to give these tracks a special shine. It's as if a beloved indie director is stepping up with their first feature film. If the first album of Weird Nightmare was an underground success comparable to Richard Linklater's Slacker, then Hoopla is Edkins' Dazed and Confused. Radiating sunny pop-rock, Hoopla was produced with just the right amount of fuzz and crunch. The direct and unadorned recording instantly immerses you in Edkins' world and his rhythm section: Loel Campbell on drums and Roddy Kuester on bass. This is high-flying power pop; these adrenaline bursts could easily find their place in a rock radio slot between The Replacements and Elvis Costello & the Attractions. Or alongside Sharp Pins, Ratboys, and Alvvays. At its core, this album is a glimmer of hope in our strange times. With Weird Nightmare, Edkins wants us to know that he still loves the world, and he invites the listeners of Hoopla to share that feeling. Seize this opportunity to treat yourself to a moment of grand pop magic in our worn-out world. You deserve it.