The Vandalias: Buzzbomb!

The Vandalias' new album Buzzbomb! features cover art meant to evoke Japanese cartoons from the '70s, a song called "Funky Monkey Baby" that's accompanied by the sound of screaming teenagers, a reference to "Kool-Aid smiles," and musicians named Alan, Bobby, and JimJim Vandalia. Not one of these factors suggests a good deal of subtlety. One listen to the opening chords of the title track confirms that suspicion, but it's also irresistible enough—as is much of the album—to forgive the obviousness of it all. This is power-pop at its poppiest, fitting 11 hook-rich songs into an ideal 35-minute dose. The best songs on Buzzbomb!—and despite its length, it still peters out somewhat toward the end—show that the group is equally adept at up-tempo numbers ("Big Red Catalina") and ballads ("Charity At Home," "Hey Kari G"), with JimJim Vandalia's warbling vocals working well in either of the band's two modes, and there really are only two. Though its pleasures are awfully close to the surface, Buzzbomb! is a lot of fun; just don't expect a second listen to be any more or less fun.