Kevin Bronson on January 31st, 2012

0

Compared to most electro-pop today, Imperial Teen’s fifth album (and first since 2007) “Feel the Sound” feels restrained. And thank goodness. The veteran quartet of Jone Stebbins, Roddy Bottum, Lynn Perko Truell and Will Schwartz have fashioned 11 giddy nuggets out of playful melodies, smart phrasing and twining vocals. The album is out today on Merge. Director Andrew G. Mueller works along the same line in the video for “Runaway.” Will those masks be available at the merch table when they play L.A.? (No date announced yet, by the way.)

||| Stream: The whole album via SPIN.com.