Hokey Fright

When quirky indie rock acquired taste meets enigmatic hip-hop acquired taste for a project, it sounds like an idea to just roll around the head or maybe an announcement to light up the blog, but it hardly seems like something that would stick to the bones. Jump to the 38-second stomper "Superheroes" included here, where the members trade off some of their favorite snacks ( : "Fluffer nutter!"; : "Shwarma!"), and is a moldy peach to forget about, but it's only an interlude, and any old curmudgeon who clues into the album's hook might very well find it vital and charming. explores unexpected interactions and reactions as an "Earthquake" shakes out of her home, just because the damn power is out. That journey out of the cocoon blossoms into social interaction with the neighbors and the reconsideration of a young local boy and all that the poor kid's been through. Tambourines, strummed guitars, and kitchen utensil percussion drive the beats underneath the lyrics of "The Aquarium," a sneaky song that's all about viewpoints and how any given ecosystem can be observed. Other songs are harder to decode -- and with that style of nursery rhyming, it's easy to wonder if it's worthwhile -- but they give up brilliant ideas, like 's "If a uniform man knock-knocks with his document/You shouldn't have to walk out to the mailbox for the other shit" ("Delicate Cycle") because a stern "sign here" would be easier to take with an "and here's the rest of your mail." Expect the expected with plenty of xylophones, campfire guitars, and 's breathy cuteness mixing with 's serious severity, but expect to be thrown as well, mostly by ideas of community and how strangers can leave lifelong impressions, and also by "Tits Up," the electro-loving winner that closes the album. ~ David Jeffries