Allison

Memorama

[3.5/5]

These days, pop-punk bands are seven cents a dozen (notice the adjustment for these recessionary times). Yet on Memorama, Mexico City aggregates Allison make the genre seem positively ebullient. The vocal harmonies are ridiculously tight (“83-87”), drummer Diego propels the proceedings like a hummingbird juiced on energy drinks (“Algo Que Decir”), and the hooks (like on the title track) stick in your head as long as the memory of the first time you made out with your best friend’s honey. (Come on, like you haven’t…) Despite some skip-it power ballads for the pop-metal prom and the oh-so-heartfelt ending tacked on the end of “Adios,” (which gets in the way of an otherwise exuberant three minutes of joy) Memorama is a good-time celebration that sounds better when you’re sharing it with friends on a really, really loud stereo. (SONY/BMG LATIN) Jason Pettigrew