Miike Snow
Happy to You
Downtown Records
Street: 03.26
Miike Snow = Bloodshy & Avant + Air + Animal Collective
This album is the happy clashing of dance pop and the group’s old “underground” sound they cultivated. We’re not sure if the band is big enough to already be eschewed by its cooler fans, but even they will closet-ly accept the solid pop-electro on this sophomore release, as long as it’s not in a public manner. Every track is bound for glory, much like their self-titled album. Though the intro track strays slightly from their first release’s style, they jump right back into what they’re known for with track two, “The Wave,” and my new Miike Snow favorite, “Archipelago”—think of it as this summer’s “Girls” (Animal Collective)—infectious, hook-heavy and dream-layered). Here, more than ever, they rely on solid French electro-predecessors’ super producers like Air, with a dash of The Beatles. That’s right, I just compared them to The Beatles, Miike Snow is taking more than a hint from Lennon’s inflections this go-round, and they’ve begun to embody their contagious spirit, too. –JP

Mike Park
Smile
Asian Man Records
Street: 08.09.11
Mike Park = The Aquabats + The Suicide Machines + Peter Paul & Mary
Mike Park has spent some time in the throngs of the ska and punk scene as a member of Skankin’ Pickle and starting his own label, Asian Man Records, which has released the likes of Alkaline Trio, Smoking Popes, The Queers, and The Lawrence Arms. Now that Park is a dad, he has released his debut children’s album. As it turns out, punk translates very easily into rock for kids. Park’s songs bounce between light-hearted punk and ska, all with positive messages and upbeat tunes telling stories that remind me of Peter, Paul, and Mary’s “Puff The Magic Dragon.” Before I had my own daughter, I swore off the made-for-kids albums, this was before I knew that there was good, independently produced music by decent musicians. My daughter is dancing to the album as I write this review, and I’m not the least bit tempted to bang my head against the wall. Fellow parents, you all know the weight this carries. –Ben Trentelman

Nite Jewel
One Second of Love
Secretly Canadian
Street: 03.06
Nite Jewel = Lana Del Rey sings The Cybill Shepherd Songbook
Is it their families or friends that convince people they can sing or more importantly, that they should be sharing their “talent” with the world? California native Ramona Gonzalez isn’t the worst singer ever, but she’s far from palatable. Being compared to a Eurythmics-era Annie Lennox and—even more head-scratching—Sade and Tracey Thorn should mean something, but nary a single note on this recalls any of those great vocalists. Lead single “One Second of Love” is at least ’80s drone-like, but is ravaged by Gonzalez’s weak vocal style. Collaborating with Cole M.G.N. makes the music interesting, but it is greatly marred by teenager-lite lyrics and a plaintive, unoriginal delivery. When she lamely sing-speaks “I’m a broken record and you have heard this before” on opener “This Story,” actually, no, we haven’t, Ramona Del Shepherd, and, um, not quite like this! –Dean O Hillis

The Plimsouls
Beach Town Confidential
Alive Naturalsound
Street: 02.07
The Plimsouls = The Kinks + Buzzcocks
This live album is a 29-year-late release of The Plimsouls’ 1983 performance at Huntington Beach’s Golden Bear club during the apex of the power pop outfit’s popularity in the LA club scene. Mixing no-frills rock n’ roll with a taste of punk and white-boy soul, The Plimsouls play a solid 17-song set featuring previously unreleased tracks and semi-famous songs such as “Zero Hour” and “A Million Miles Away.” Released to drum up nostalgia in anticipation of frontman Peter Case and Nerves-bandmate Paul Collins’ 2012 reunion tour, this snapshot of the eighties sounds great for a live recording and makes The Plimsouls seem way cooler than they looked in that Valley Girls movie. Although I prefer Peter Case’s more recent blues/country solo work and his pre-Plimsouls band, The Nerves, Beach Town Confidential is a fun, catchy, hook-laden record that rocks, plain and simple. –Cody Kirkland

Polica
Give You the Ghost
Totally Gross National Product
Street: 02.14
Polica = Bon Iver + Spoon + GAYNGS
It’s clear after a few spins that Polica vocalist Channy Casselle (GAYNGS) emerges as an auto-tuned goddess on this sublime, lilting and mellow LP. I usually hate the electronic fabrication of tuning, but somehow it works here as she collaborates with other GAYNGS member Ryan Olson. I have no idea how this concept would transfer to live performances, though. I might feel as if T-Pain had decided to hop onstage dressed as a really hot lady, although the pedigree of this group means (to some) that Polica can do whatever the fuck they want, with guests like Bon Iver’s Mike Noyce on vocals and Jim Eno (Spoon) as the mixer. It’s really delightful stuff, and instead of turning the music into a disgusting pop mess, the auto-tune imbues a haunting texture to the LP. This is worth a listen, if just for a lesson on how to use auto-tune. –JP