Packing a 30-minute, electric ukelele-fueled emotional punch, the debut self-titled album from It Was Romance shows a band with confidence, character and promising talent. The first single, "Philadelphia," is an emotionally revealing song, telling in just under three minutes the story of a love strained by distance. Singer, multi-instrumentalist, and founder Lane Moore’s velvety voice saunters around the doo wop rhythm section and the gritty distorted guitars, providing a unique contrast to the sad subject matter of the lyrics and delivering a song fit for your summer playlist. Her unselfconscious performance in the single’s video (streaming) adds an extra layer of paradox and fun. The quintet released their debut in May, you can catch them live on July 28 when they perform at the Cameo Gallery in Brooklyn. – Patrick Wolff
