Prettier Than Pink, Chop Suey

Prettier Than Pink's "Chop Suey" recalls not only the artistic seesaws of late period Beatles but the creative explosion that rocked in London in the late '70s. This is pop with a capital P, completely enamored of its ability to shape-shift and surprise listeners with every unpredictable track.

Each tune on "Chop Suey" could've emanated from a different group: The kindergarten psychedelia of "Mars"; the Southern California beach blast of "Little Men, Big Cars"; the lush romanticism of "Baby"; the midnight-movie majesty of "Johnny Blaze"; the sprightly, jangly bounce of "Hair." The only thread that ties the tunes together are their biting hooks.

Prettier Than Pink have actually found a way of making the guitar sound vital again. There are no riffs throughout the record, which is a startling accomplishment.

The tempo is on a sugar high for the first number of songs but even when the album slows down the ladies continue to sustain our interest. "Johnny Blaze," for example, is a masterstroke of mood and cinematic sound, the drums capturing a sense of impending doom while the vocals haunt the wasteland of broken dreams.

Completely original and ceaselessly entertaining, "Chop Suey" is a dish that is fat on its own brilliance.