At once poppier and heavier than New Order (all of the references I see in the press use The 1975, but hey, let's go back to the original, okay?), Somos has evolved its sound into something even more processed than its previous two albums.

Somos Prison on a Hill (Tiny Engines)

I could have said "crafted," but this is more about the sound. The song construction remains indebted to 90s pop punk, but the sound is much more synth-driven, even though there are a lot of guitars. Which is to say this is both new wave and 80s AOR-ish Top 40.

Seriously anthemic in the hooks (that whole pop-punk thing again), these songs don't flow so much as burst. In many ways, I find the catchiness almost disturbing. And then I find another earworm.

I have no idea how long the rush from this album will last. But while it's going, I plan to enjoy the ride. An unexpected pleasure.

Jon Worley