Behind this, maybe a little confusing name, you'll find a sophisticated pop item, full of stupefying melodies and imaginative arrangements, made with an arsenal of exotic instruments (mellotron, moog, balalaika, glockenspiel, vintage keys...).

Acme Rock Group is actually a “one man band” project of Erik Rex, who is, no matter how far from the media exposure, persistent in refusing the fact that the sun, that used to shine a light on his parents' faces throughout the summer of love, is now behind the unmerciful clouds of the modern age.

Just like the previous sentence, album Star, in itself, hides something that could be described like a fairytale-like content that couldn't be heard since, say 1968. (at least by the ones who were lucky enough to be born on time).

The biggest part of this album consists of songs that used to be made as a result of the mynd expanding hallucinogenic experiments, in other words, psychedelic pop songs like Be With Me, Help Me or You're Dead. In a contemporary, more simplistic definition, this means "songs that make you feel good"!

Fly To The Sun, mellotronizes some Beatlessence into the sound and so does Wasting My Time, with it's “revolver” echoes girded on, while Floating could easily be the place where the west-coast harmonies meet early Bowie. As a special audio-spice, this retro-candy adds two brilliantly chosen covers.

The first is one the items bought at The Who's Sell Out named Odorono that perfectly describes the instant pop sensibility of the quirky melodies that are the component parts of this collection, and the second one is World Without Love, McCartney's Merseybeat classic written for his almost-brother-in-low Peter Asher and his partner Gordon Waller, here in a gentle, light arrangement, properly infused into the sound ambience that dominates the album.

Erik Rex, with a little help from his friends, managed, at least for a moment, to reactivate the long lost summer, and to the younger ones, he conjured up the grooves they weren't able to experience firsthandedly.
Goran Obradovic
Popism via Torpedo Pop Records
Serbia via Sweden

This cd has been a popular seller and for good reason! Acme Rock Group make guitar pop with silken soft harmonies. Very nice sounding, very easy to swallow! Super influenced by "Sell Out" era Who!!! (even a cover from them) They also sound extremly British. At times I can hear Peter and Gordon harmonies...and yes they do a great remake of "World without Love". This disc contains the best of the 60's but with an upgrade in sound and production. Recommended highly! A+
Jam Records

Indie pop fans have been heaping a large amount of justifiable praise on Rick Corcoran for his gem of a Beatles-inspired album, The Orgone Box. Save some of that same applause for Star, the debut disc by the Acme Rock Group. Erik Rex and his musical pals have released a dandy of a Beatlesque album that even includes a sweet (think of Ken Sharp) version of the Lennon-McCartney tune, “World Without Love.” Star also includes a cover of the Who’s “Odorono,” but Rex and his bandmates excel with their original power pop and psychedelic tunes. The disc opens strongly with three straight tracks that smack of Sgt. Pepper’s era songs – the last of which, “Floating,” even has a bit of a David Bowie sound to it. The slower tracks are reminiscent of Rubber Soul, and the only instrumental track maintains the Beatlesque theme. In fact, this is one of those rare discs where the songs blend seamlessly together. Pop fans should rejoice over Star. It’s refreshing to know that Philadelphia (best known for its R&B and soul groups) is nurturing pop, rock and alt-country bands in the new millennium. The Acme Rock Group has just helped pseudo-60s psych/pop take a big step forward!
Eric Sorensen | Amplifier Magazine

Wow! The Blow Pops, Orgone Box, David Grahame, Gripweeds...bands like this have kept the fires stoked for fans of Beatles inspired 60's pop and add ARG to the list as this one is heading for the winner's circle! Filled with classic melodies and hooks of classic Kinks and Lennon/McCartney, this is not a stale rehash of the sounds of yesteryear. Just really great music reverently brought up to speed for present times that deserves to not fade away. Very Highly Recommended!
Not Lame Records
Colorado

Debut release by Philly group. Very reminiscent of Teenage Fan Club and Superstar. Features kool covers of Beatles/Peter & Gordon’s “World Without Love” and The Who’s “Odorono”. EXCELLENT!!
Ray Gianchetti | Kool Kat Musik
New Jersey

Star
****
An excellent first from this Philly-based band, Star combines strains of melodic pop and hard-edged psychedelia to make this one of the more fun (and listenable) debuts to come along in a while. The band seems primarily to be the project of one Erik Rex, who writes all of the songs (with the exception of The Who's "Odorono" and the rare Beatles track "World Without Love") and plays many of the instruments on Star. Considering this, it's hard to say that Acme Rock Group is really a group, but Rex's songs and arrangements hold their own against the more whimsical strains of psychedelia coming out of Athens, Ga.
Alex Stimmel | Rockpile Magazine
Philadelphia

"What Philly needs: Do we need another '60's Brit pop-loving group whose only full-time member changes band members like most people change socks? Last I checked, the Lilys were adequately filling that role. But Acme Rock Group are aspiring to the throne. Acme Rocker Erik Rex grooves on some darker, moodier Brit Invasion stuff but also has some numbers you can definitely shimmy to."
Brian Howard | Philadelphia City Paper

Honorable Mention" for best Philadelphia releases by the Philadelphia City Paper
Brian Howard | Philadelphia City Paper

Best New Band in Philadelphia: Acme Rock Group - You might wonder where to find solid pop product in Philadelphia --that is of the Byrds-ian variety. There's a lot of glam-pop (the Perils of Pauline), psyche-pop (Emma), garage-pop (Buzz Zeemer), Emily Valentine), space-pop (Eltro), even Celtic punk-pop (Burn Witch Burn) -- but where the heck is the pop-pop? I'll tell you where: at the Acme Rock Group headquarters. The Acme corporation is working day and night to bring you the finest in jangly, upbeat pop. Erik Rex, the friendly foreman, will be happy to tell you about Acme's entire product line of pop music samplers and promotional T-shirts at the next ARG meeting.
Jill.MacDowel | Philadelphia Weekly