Born to Be a Motorcycle

Born to Be a Motorcycle is the recorded debut of Bunky, the much-loved San Diego indie pop band created by Rafter Roberts and Emily Joyce. And what's not to love, really? Joyce's vocals are fun-loving enough to suggest the easy-to-follow sound of children's singalong records, but like Hilarie Sidney of the Apples in Stereo and the High Water Marks, Joyce's bright tone is tied to a winking adultness. Bunky's music follows suit. Jaunty melodies get thrashed by blasts of distortion, and keys, saxophones, trumpets, trombones, and assorted other noises ("yelps" and "whooooo"s, for example) appear in the most unpredictable places. "Yes/No," "Baba," and "Glass of Water" are haphazard lurches of sweet/cynical pop; "Water"'s whiny singing (courtesy of Roberts) and squawking trumpet bring to mind the captivating weirdness of Danielson Famile. Bunky's upbeat numbers are spazzy and irresistible, but their ballads are equally strong. The Joyce/Roberts duet "Cute Not Beautiful" has the feel of a gentle Yo La Tengo jam session, and "Funny Like the Moon"'s slow parts showcase a wistful, wide-eyed Joyce. Motorcycle's best moments might be in its center. "Gotta Pee" and "Boy/Girl" combine every trick in the Bunky book, from insistent rhythm guitars and Joyce's inventive drumming to brass accents and consistently great vocals. "Boy/Girl" even shifts effortlessly into a drifting choral outro accompanied by what sounds like popping bubbles. Joyce, Roberts, and their supporting cast of San Diegan indie rock luminaries always favor solidity over whimsy. Its artwork features pointillistic smiley faces and watercolor swaths, and the music is usually just one funny noise away from a smile. But there's an underlying, always evident craft in the songwriting, and that steadiness puts nourishment behind Bunky's sweetness. Born to Be a Motorcycle — it's pop music health food.