[4.5/5]
For a dozen years, ex-art school rockers Les Savy Fav have been calibrating their blend of jagged art-punk and pop smarts. On their first full-length since 2001's Go Forth, the Brooklyn quartet demonstrate new mastery of the style, creating their most appealing and accessible music to date. They retain some of the tightly wound post-punk angularity they've always favored ("Slugs In The Shrubs") and even bust a bit of old-school punk ("The Equestrian"), but the real advances are melodic. Winning tracks such as "Scotchguard The Credit Card" and "The Year Before The Year 2000" drape the perky pace in hooks and fuzzy warmth. At times, as on "Kiss Kiss Is Getting Old" with guest vocalist Eleanor Friedberger of the Fiery Furnaces, they even suggest an East Coast variation of Modest Mouse's windy pop. Particular standouts include the catchy, almost nerdy "Pots & Pans," and the punchy "Rage In The Plague Age," which is sung like Craig Finn getting medieval on your ass. (FRENCHKISS) Chris Parker
 Official Website: http://www.frenchkissrecords.com
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