Susquehanna

After an eight-year absence, Cherry Poppin’ Daddies return with a multifaceted sound on Susquehanna. Rather than stick to the swing revivalist formula that earned them success in the ‘90s, the band goes for an eclectic approach that shifts from track to track. Jamaican rhythms lend a tropical fizz to a number of the tunes, including the sparkling “Blood Orange Sun” and the hard-charging “Hammerblow.” Latin music is a key inspiration point evident in the jittery “Bust Out,” the hyper-romantic “Roseanne,” and the deceptively festive “White Trash Toodle Oo.” Lead vocalist Steve Perry ventures into a Spanish language lyric on the twang-driven “Arráncate.” But wait, there’s more — the Daddies resurrect early punk (“Julie Grave”), delve into sensuous acoustic balladry (“Breathe”) and offer lilting folk-rock (“The Good Things”) with equal zest. Despite this excess of musical moods, the album finds unity in the fun-loving, slightly cheeky spirit radiated by the band. Cherry Poppin’ Daddies fire in all directions on Susquehanna, and more often than not score a bull’s eye.