It’s been 25 years since 20/20 last gave power pop lovers something to sing along to, but fans can finally rejoice and breathe a sigh of relief - the band that gave us “Yellow Pills,” “Nuclear Boy,” “Fast Car,” and countless other classics are back. And they’re not just dipping their toes into the past, they’re diving headfirst into the future, bringing all the infectious hooks, harmony-drenched melodies, and great guitar riffs that made them cult heroes with them. Back To California proves that time may have passed, but the magic is very much alive.

The album’s title track, “Back To California,” is a perfect re-introduction of what’s in store. A driving anthem that captures the band’s essence, it adds a touch of Americana to their sound much like they’ve done in the years since their first few albums. With crisp guitars and a riff that could be a distant relative to the Plimsouls’ “A Million Miles Away,” it’s an instant earworm, one that proves 20/20 still has that special spark that’ll make you remember the lightning of the early days.

The backstory here is a familiar and timeless rock n’ roll tale. Originally hailing from Tulsa, Oklahoma, Steve Allen (vocals, guitar) and Ron Flynt (bass, vocals) made their way to Southern California in the late ’70s, where they quickly became mainstays in the power pop scene. Their 1979 self-titled debut remains a classic from that time, lauded by everyone from Shake Some Action author John Borack to fans of compilations like Yellow Pills. After a string of influential albums followed by decades of silence, Allen and Flynt were ready to return to their roots. “Back To California” is a great song, but it’s a love letter to the past. “It’s about bringing everything back again,” says Flynt, reflecting on both the literal and metaphorical meaning of the track. "Maybe it’s a love song between two people, maybe it’s about the past and the future colliding - who knows? But there’s hope in it, and that’s what counts."

The new album finds the duo joined by Flynt’s son Ray on drums, a move that injects some youthful energy that fits in nicely with the band’s vibe. And as much as Back To California is a reflection of their past, it also shows the band isn't at the end of the road yet. "The music was doing what it wanted to do," Allen says. And what it does is bridge the gap between the ’70s heyday of power pop and what they’ve become in the years since - seasoned songwriters filled with decades of rock n' roll wisdom.

As Shake Some Action author John Borack puts it, "How often does a band come back after more than two decades and deliver a collection of songs that stands proudly alongside their finest work? Not often, but 20/20 has done just that."