KEY POINTS:
Rating: * * *
Scouting for Girls frontman Roy Stride isn't trying to change the world. He's just making pop music - simple singalong tunes with foot-tapping beats and plenty of "oohs" and "woohs". And he does a pretty good job of it.
Sure, the lyrics are less than insightful - "She's flirty, turned 30/Ain't that the age a girl gets really dirty?" - but they're not meant to be.
The self-titled debut album made number one on the British charts on the strength of its three singles - rollicking, piano-driven pop songs laden with big hooks and more "ooh la las" than a Parisian lothario.
The cascading rhythm of Elvis Ain't Dead is straight from The Beach Boys' book of music-making and the catchiest tune of an annoyingly catchy album.
In between the singles, are more coming-of-age singalongs that defy you not to smile, though you may find yourself wondering if you're still on the same track, as the songs do sound overly similar.
With the exception of the limp opener Keep on Walking, which is particularly muddled and distracting, this is an album of pure, unabashed pop fun. And there's nothing wrong with that.
Joanna Hunkin
