What is it about Dayton, Ohio that makes its natives dream of other places? For that matter, why do Americans long to get out of a land that so many want to get in? Is it the water? The history, or lack thereof? Or is it just hard for people to be content exactly where they are? While far from a concept record, Ruetschle ponders these questions on their new album and their third full-length, Exotic Destinations. And in the long process the band has produced their most confident and consistent effort yet.

Exotic Destinations is an album complete with no-nonsense pop songs that evoke a feeling of anything but the Midwest. Instead the quartet are in a mood, sonically dreaming of foreign islands and foreign lands. Jetsetters, mods, and J-pop kids. And a simpler time when “pop music” wasn’t considered a curse word. But this all makes sense in light of Ruetschle’s previous output. The band have always had a surfy, innocent, “Buddy Holly meets the Jam” aesthetic. Therefore Exotic Destinations is more of a fulfillment of sonic ideas already explored. What really sets apart Exotic Destinations is just how much more consistent it is.

“I know everyone says this about every record . . ” Mike Ruetschle, leader of the band of his namesake, is reluctantly gushing, “ . . . but I think this is our best yet.” “I agree completely,” drummer Andy Ingram chimes in. “I think we had good songs on the first two records. We just didn’t care about recording them. So I think our lo-fi attitude held those records back in the long run. This record is still a tad raw, cause that’s who we are as people. But now we not only have the most complete batch of songs Mike has written, but we have no excuses either. ”

Read down the track listing and you can’t help but find a surplus of catchy, nostalgic pop singles. “Can You Remember?”, “Don’t Turn Around”, “So Complicated”, “She’s Alright”, “Shine on Me”, “Coming Round”, all could be international pop radio hits. Even the moodier songs like the soft, acoustic “Summertime” or the eerie “Be Best” are turning out to be some friends and fans’ favorites. That’s the mark of a quality record, when the even the bad songs are good.

Quiet, placid bassist Cooper chimes in, “Now that the record is done. I just hope we get the songs in front of people who will appreciate them.” And so now the bigger challenge begins. As Exotic Destinations releases for public consumption, their journey ensues in the hope that their innocent, addictive wonderings can be as a big to rock/n/roll audiences everywhere as it is in their own foreign daydreams.