Reptilians (10-Year Anniversary Edition)

Had they chosen to change their name to Pyramiddd, they could have been filed right next to the similar-sounding Passion Pit, Pinback, or Postal Service. But Starfucker it is, and even though the name doesn’t lend itself to maturity, their third full-length shows definite signs of development. Principal songwriter Joshua Hodges still makes easy, breezy songs in a synthesized pop style on Reptilians, but the cute factor is dialed back a notch. New member Keil Corcoran boosts the sonic value with some live drumming (instead of using primarily programmed beats), and Dandy Warhols producer Jacob Portrait paints these songs with a cooler sheen, which is a big step in the right direction. These little enhancements help to make Starfucker sound less like a laptop project and more like an actual big-league band for their Polyvinyl debut. Parted out, the tunes are still glossy and uber-catchy enough to make them viable commercial jingles, but as a whole, Reptilians is way more concrete than earlier Starfucker records. There aren’t any weak points, and it drifts along dreamily, from one understated jam to the next. ~ Jason Lymangrover