Sound Check

Catchy pop with Self, sunny fun with Bats

Self
Subliminal Plastic Motives
(Spongebath/Zoo)

The Bats
Couchmaster
(Flying Nun/Mammoth)

It goes without saying that there's more than enough awful to mediocre albums out there, with dozens more released every week. While there are plenty of useless CDs around, not every album must be a revelation to succeed--doing the familiar well enough or with a couple of twists is sometimes enough. Witness Self and the Bats, two arguably less-than-essential bands whose recent albums take pop for a walk with mostly satisfying results.
Virtually a one-man project, the Tennessee-based Self is clearly the more experimental of the two acts, dropping hip-hop/dub beats and varied keyboard voices into classic power-pop tunes. The overall effect of Subliminal Plastic Motives is not as forced as it might seem on paper, as the samples and passages of non-rock production often come wrapped in crunchy guitars, and melody is king throughout. Opening tracks "Borateen" and "Sophomore Jinx" (yes, the second track on this debut) are fine introductions to Matt Mahaffey's skill at both catchy arrangements and self-conscious lyrics like I've been stuck between a rock and a vinyl interior. What follows is pleasantly witty, coming off alternately like a hi-fi version of Beck and a still-worthy Cheap Trick looped on drugs. Fans of clever pop should find a lot to like here. B
***
Twelve-year veterans the Bats stick with a successful formula on Couchmaster, which encapsulates much of the charm of New Zealand pop in general--a treble-heavy sound that's simultaneously icy and warm, and hard to resist. This is neither a bold album nor a lazy one (as its title suggests). The uncomplicated jangle within tends to make the world seem several notches sunnier no matter what the setting without ever resorting to sugary clich�s--no small feat. Super-melodious vocals make "Land O' Lakes," despite its talk of impediments like rain and missing possessions, quite cheery, while the mysterious, contemplative "Shoeshine" gives guitarist/keyboardist Kaye Woodward a velvety turn on lead vocals. Throughout, the Bats' smart use of distortion and keyboards is hard to argue with.
Any of these tracks could take root in your skull, but "Afternoon in Bed" is the hardest to shake at this point, largely due to the effect of strained guitar over a subdued (male) vocal: Spent the afternoon in bed / Tryin' to figure out what words you said. If his problem isn't completely resolved by the nicely cathartic chorus, at least listeners win. B+
--Kyle Ylinen / Contributing Writer