Note: This is Imperial Teen’s fourth studio album and first since 2002’s On.
Sound: Sugary sweet, boy/girl indie pop/rock that jumps between spunky and hip shakin’ and mellow and dreamy. Despite having 10+ years under their belts, they still capture a juvenile innocence and balance it with seasoned sophistication.
Heavy Rotation tracks: “Fallen Idol”; “Sweet Potato”; “Shim Sham”
Medium Rotation tracks: “Room With A View”; “The Hair, The TV, The Baby and The Band”; “Do It Better”
Recommended: The songs don’t develop much beyond an insanely hummable melody, some memorable lines and a solid hook. But if you’re into that kind of thing, Imperial Teen still does it better than most. This is their most consistent album to date, though it lacks the kind of knockout singles of their previous releases.
Grade: B+

Download/Stream “Shim Sham” MP3

Listen to Tracks/Buy CD