NVM

Chillwave, shoegaze redux, coldwave, garage revival, math rock ... with all the subgenres of indie rock out there, it must be difficult for some bands to figure out where they fit. Yet the name Tacocat pretty much points the way to this group’s territory (pop-punk nirvana). With three women (often decked out in polka-dot dresses) and one guy, all hailing from the Northwest, Tacocat are indeed fun, with songs about—well, you know: boys, aliens, dreaming, snow days. If you remember bands like The Muffs or The Fastbacks, Tacocat will sound familiar to you. If you’re a fan of newer female-led groups, like Shannon & The Clams or Grass Widow, Tacocat will feel like someone you met last week at a backyard barbecue. They do a superb job of meshing first-wave punk-pop girl groups with the nuances of today’s femme faves, and their songs are short and sweet, punchy as a prizefighter and catchy as that legwarmer trend that won’t go away. With punkier kickers like “Hey Girl,” sing-along pop treats like “Bridge to Hawaii,” Elastica-flavored nods like “Pocket Full of Primrose," and frothy surf songs like “Alien Girl,” NVM is one big party waiting to happen.