KEY POINTS:
Herald rating: * * * *
Verdict: Fast-moving and fun, there's more to this band than pop-nonsense
Label: Virgin
In a world dominated by angst-ridden, emo teens, Operator Please's debut album Yes Yes Vindictive is refreshingly upbeat and fun. The Australian five-piece - all aged under 21 - may be best known for the irritating pop-nonsense single Just a Song About Ping Pong, but this album reveals there's more to this pop punk band.
At their best, they are reminiscent of Blondie or the B-52s, as heard on the tracks Leave It Alone and Terminal Disease. Singer Amandah Wilkinson's voice is unusual and interesting but becomes grating at times, particularly when she opts to shout the chorus of songs.
It is on the softer, slower tracks like Other Song and Pantomime that the band excel.
Pantomime, the closing track of the record, reveals hidden depth to the band and is quite beautiful in its melancholy.
While most of the record sounds like psychedelic pop punk, the stand-out track is a pop tune in its purest form.
Two for My Seconds is irresistibly catching, defying listeners to play it without putting a smile on their face.
Despite some inconsistency, Yes Yes Vindictive is a fast-moving, fun album, worth a listen and a definite contender for the kids' Christmas present pile.
