Picture Perfect EP

Strawberry Whiplash's strong suit is simplicity. The four songs on the band's 2009 sophomore EP, Picture Perfect, don't chase after deep truths or brainy musical gestures; from the sound of things, Laz McClusky (the man behind the like-minded indie pop project Bubblegum Lemonade) and lead singer Sandra are content with simply being a bubblegummy, C-86-ish band that makes jangle-sweet pop tunes about falling in love. And there's nothing wrong with that — from front to back, Picture Perfect offers a tasty balance wistful and fiery, twinkly bells and churning guitars. Graced with a voice that hovers somewhere between Rose Melberg and Tracyanne Campbell, Sandra's approach to these songs is wonderfully light — her simultaneously detached yet warm delivery lends just the right amount of tenderness and vulnerability to these pop tunes. It's the kind of sound that compares favorably to acts like Motorcycle Boy, the Primitives, and Tiger Trap — and in this way Picture Perfect's spun-sugar tracks sound a whole lot like the material that made up Strawberry Whiplash's 2008 debut. The main difference here is a big dose of confidence; on Picture Perfect, the arrangements are tighter, the production is ever-so-slightly crisper, and Sandra just sounds more at ease. Indie pop fans looking for a sugar fix along the lines of the School or the Pains of Being Pure at Heart would be well-served to check out this little disc.