SPIN

7

• SPIN Rating:7 of 10

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Release Date: August 9, 2011
Label: astralwerks

With their 2010 debut EP, Sun Bronzed Greek Gods -- especially wounded snot-nosed manifestos "Living in America" and "Burn Bridges" -- this sincerely smart-ass Dorchester, Massachusetts trio levitated to the top of indie-pop's scrap heap -- i.e., they boasted the uncanniest songs via the crappiest DIY means. So was there any reason to record these five similarly shrewd melodies-with-benefits in a real studio assisted by producer Nicolas Vernhes (Björk, Animal Collective)? Nah, not really. Dom's '80s identikit synth-psych ditties ("Telephoned," the title track) are the most fun when he's slyly and/or drunkenly tugging your skirt. Not when he sidles up all polished and proper.