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Jack Conte only gave us four songs clocking in at barely over 15 minutes on his EP, Nightmares and Daydreams.  Fifteen minutes is not very much time from which to glean the full scope of a musician's talent.  Yet somehow Conte has  poured himself into these 15 minutes, focusing talent and energy into a deliciously honest handful of acoustic electro-pop songs that will force you to listen and understand.  These four songs easily manage to prove Conte's songwriting prowess, lifting your spirits and leaving you hungry for more.

We start with Starlight and Yeah Yeah Yeah, songs that take the sounds of the Postal Service and weaves them with the introspective styles of Radiohead or The Mars Volta.  The result is upbeat yet simultaneously brooding and melancholy.  Conte has a beautiful voice that travels high and low, complimenting the the acoustic guitar and accordion infused electronica.  The track Tick Tock is another excellent song that is very reminiscent of Incubus sans all hard rock elements.  Unfrozen rounds out the collection quite nicely.  A subdued Conte plays piano, guitar, and accordion here on a haunting track that slowly soars into something altogether hopeful.

Nightmares and Daydreams doesn't give much to listen to and review, but what is there is great.  Conte is an extremely talented songwriter, and I would not doubt that he will be hitting it big someday.  The only downside here is that there are not enough songs with which to prove that he can create a fleshed out sound.  His music is refreshing and enjoyable, and I will definitely be grabbing a CD if he ever releases a full-length album. In the meantime, any pop fans should definitely be checking Jack Conte out.