Mike Levy, a former member of San Francisco’s now defunct classic pop act, the Sneetches, is now exploring the music business as a solo act. He recorded six records and three EPs released in the United States, UK, Europe and Japan during his 10-year tenure with the Sneetches, who were together from 1985 to 1995.Their first record, “Lights Out With The Sneetches,” was released in the UK on Kaleidoscope Records and their second, “Sometimes That’s All We Have,” was released on Creation Records. The Sneetches were the first American band to be signed to the esteemed (but now non-existent) label that had also signed such acts as Oasis, Primal Scream, My Bloody Valentine and Swervedriver.While with the Sneetches, Levy was invited to play at the reputable “Les Inrockuptibles French Music Festival” in Paris (with John Cale and the Monochrome Set). They toured the U.S. twice as well as Japan, where their fan base remains steadfast although the band is no longer together. The Sneetches also collaborated with ex-Flamin’ Groovies guitarist/vocalist Chris Wilson in 1993 on “Chris Wilson and the Sneetches.”Mike Levy has changed gears musically, but he’s not changed direction. In 1995, Levy began recording his first solo album for the Bus Stop label. After the usual breaks, fizzles and delays of a first album on a new label, Parasol Records stepped in at the beginning of last year to see the album through to its completion. Fans of classic, toe-tapping, finger-snapping, sing-along pop melodies were probably fans of the Sneetches during their reign over much of the underground and not-so-underground pop scene in San Francisco and the West Coast. Old Sneetches fans, as well as a generation of new pop-crazed fans will fall in love with the new Mike Levy solo album, “Fireflies,” that is out now. Levy has washed his hands clean of all the current pop clichés and has created a well-groomed, sparkling collection of pop-soul sensations that leave you wondering, “With such introspective and gloomy lyrics, how can I be left feeling so good?” When asked about his influences, Levy writes, “It’s funny, I started out with the idea of doing ‘Nilsson Schmilsson'(I guess it would have to be called ‘Levy Schmeevy’) which is why ‘Away From My Head’ and ‘I Need To Tell You’ sound the way they do, but that soon changed,” he said. “I wanted the song, ‘Take This Child Away’ to sound like an old Al Green record, minus the vocals of course. Overall, I wanted the record to have a soulful vibe.” On “Fireflies,” a definite Harry Nilsson influence and sound can be heard along with the Beatles, in that indescribable way the Beatles can indirectly be heard in any pop album. There are moments when the strings will leave you enraptured. The painstakingly beautiful piano solos, such as in the song, “Serenade for a Peach,” add grace and fascination to the record. The songs sound so familiar but they are impossible to place with a specific genre or musician. In fact, the beginning to the first song on Levy’s album, “Someone Like You,” sounds remarkably like the last song on Elliott Smith’s last album, “Figure 8.” There are also touches of Paul McCartney and Paul Simon in Levy’s new album, which you can hear in songs such as, “New Day” and “(There’s Always) Something Wrong.” Even similarities to Eric Matthews’ “It’s Heavy in Here,” can be heard in track number eight, “I Need to Tell You.”Overall, “Fireflies” is an amazing collection of pop songs that could be the perfect gift for the pop-neglected or neglectful people in your life. Perhaps it will be an album to compare further pop albums to or at least, it can show upcoming musicians what it’s all about. Mike Levy’s “Fireflies” is for fans of; Elliott Smith, Harry Nilsson, the Beatles, Ben Folds Five or Eric Matthews.