party killers

Bubbling over with lovable indie rock along the lines of Guided by Voices or Robert Pollard's solo work, Superhopper kick things off with the strong and fabulous "Kermit Hates Music" which is a lo-fi, gritty piece of rock. The same can be said for the equally catchy "It's Alright, It's Okay" that also has a bit of Brit-pop charm shining through. These short thrusts are complemented by fuller, fleshed out numbers like the joyous "Excuses on Parade" which is highlighted by sweet harmonies and singalong arrangements. The first track straying from this sugar-coated format is the elongated and surprisingly good "When You're Down and Out (In Minneapolis)" which sounds like a cross between XTC and the Kinks. Here Superhopper bring the tune to life by hitting all cylinders for the homestretch. At less than 30 minutes, the album doesn't quite leave the listener completely satisfied. Yet there are a plethora of tracks here that are very memorable, even the rather mid-tempo but punchy "Bling Bling." "All Tomorrow's After Bars" is another smart, chipper indie rock number that could be a cousin of Guided by Voices' "Bulldog Skin." The band wrap things up with a rowdy, rapid "Eye of the Tiger Applies to Everything." Party Killers is the sort of album that might be hard to find, but definitely worth the hunt.