Bookshelf Adventures

On Bookshelf Adventures, Jumprope's debut full-length, the Boston indie pop quartet put their best foot forward, assembling a 15-track collection of upbeat and blissful pop sounds. The band seamlessly alternates vocal duties between guitarist Ad Boc, guitarist Noelle Boc, and bassist Cindy Goh. Goh is prominently featured on "Au Revoir les Enfants," a subdued track complete with piano and a relaxed, jazzy feel. The band excels on childishly playful tracks like "Tortoise and the Hare," "Gingerbread," and the cover of the Free Design's "Kites Are Fun." The band's music is never overbearing or unnecessarily complex, instead opting for simple orchestration and themes. Goh's vocals are again prominent on "Mary Moon Electric" and "Notes From a Chateau Guest." Her vocals are easily comparable to Sarah Shannon of Velocity Girl. The band shared songwriting duties on this disc, with all vocalists sharing the responsibility and collaborating on some tracks. Tom Evans' steady drumbeat holds it all together, especially on "I Never Loved Your Mind" and "The Reunion." "Aunt Harriet" includes a found-sound recording at the beginning, and Ad Boc's vocals have a different sense of urgency on that track, as the band experimented with their already solid pop sound.