Jingle Jangle Pop, The Goldbergs/The Sun Kings (self-issued)

The two bands sharing this EP have Andy Goldberg in common, who wrote the two Goldbergs cuts in 2009 and co-wrote the Sun Kings tunes with Dean Basil in 1998. This is textbook power pop, strong songs well performed that have you leaning an ear more closely to the speaker, both to spot the influences as well as to catch more of the lyrics. The Sun Kings evoke the Beatles and other Merseybeat bands on "Santa's Calling" and "Have a Very Merry Christmas," the latter having a nice slapdash quality accentuated by the use of bongos and other percussion rather than a trap set. The Goldbergs keep up the pace with "Christmas Time Again," a Badfinger-ish melody with acoustic guitars and lyrics that liberally quote familiar carol lyrics, and, Hanukkah alert, "Chanukah Guy," a song about "a Chanukah guy who loves Christmas/And the rabbi doesn't know." A great effort from an indie band (or two).