Champ by Tokyo Police Club

 

This summer, Tokyo Police Club released their second album, Champ, and critics continue to sing the band's praises. As with their previous releases, Champ mines upbeat melodic guitar pop that is in keeping with the band's youthful presence while simultaneously moving to deepen and expand their sound, presumably with an eye toward their future and designs on longevity. Good move, especially for a band that was labeled "sci-fi pop-punk" upon their debut.

 

This is an album we haven't seen on any end-of-year lists yet, and that's a surprise. Champ was released to almost universal acclaim, with a score of 71/100 on Metacritic; it received a handful of positive reviews in high-profile publications like Rolling Stone; and the band is known for their enthusiastic festival sets and devoted fans. Throw this one in your car stereo to hear what the Onion A.V. Club calls a "compelling, joyous listen" and see if you don't start looking for TPC tour dates near you.