Oakland, CA’s Lunchbox has been at it for almost 30 years, a long time for a band to stick together; the outfit’s sturdy foundation is indie pop power couple Donna McKean and Tim Brown as they welcome assorted helpers. Pop and Circumstance is their latest full-length, released by Slumberland on LP, CD, and digital May 10, and the title is apropos. Bright with horns and keyboards and loaded with jangle and a bit of fuzz, the album’s catchy rippers draw from bubblegum and mod and the inextinguishable spirit of C86. In short, it’s a grand time.
As part of the 1990s indie pop wave, Lunchbox was prolific with a batch of singles across the decade’s second half, plus an eponymous full-length debut in ’96 and a follow-up The Magic of Sound in ’99. Progress continued in the new century but at a slower pace. That Pop and Circumstance is Lunchbox’s second LP for Slumberland extends a relationship borne from shared longevity and purpose.
Continuing to sharpen and broaden their sound, McKean and Brown dish their songs with youthful punk energy and a psych-pop edge that suggests the early days of Elephant 6. The jangle naturally recalls ’80s indie pop, but it’s delivered with panache that reinforces the ’60s root, a connection that is strengthened through the addition of trumpets and keys.
Opener “Dinner for Two” bursts forth with zest, suggesting that Rob Schneider, prior to recording Fun Trick Noisemaker, became smitten with the work of The Wrecking Crew, and in particular the more sunshiny Los Angeles-based productions that featured those session ringers. It’s over in under two minutes, rolling right into the hard-driving pogo-paced feedback-laced pop gush of “I’m Yours, You’re Mine”; this one spreads out to the “classic” single length of three and a half minutes.
With McKean singing lead, “Summer’s Calling” is reminiscent of Amelia Fletcher (of Heavenly), but decked out in leather, a quality that gets enhanced by the presence of bigger riffs and surplus amplifier scorch. It’s still catchy as the kissing disease and is over with quick, conjuring associations with Robert Pollard (the leanness), Ladybug Transistor (those trumpets), and Saturday Looks Good to Me (the scope).
“Different Tune” is standout rough edged strum pop that soars, and then comes “Love for Free,” a showcase of bold bubblegum transformation. “Don’t Wait too Long” is an unexpected twist, reggae-flavored but still indie pop-based, hitting like a skank-happy blend of Heavenly and The Primitives. “This World” ramps up the tempo and adds a little psych-pop spaciness to the equation. And “Is This Real?” slows it down as Lunchbox taps into a robust bubblegum-jangle groove.
As Brown dishes the lead vocal, “Heaven Only Knows” brings post-Brian Wilson ’60s pop pondering to mind, but the song rolls with a spark that reinforces Lunchbox’s allegiance to punk and post-Jam neo Mod (and early Who, even). Piling up fast, the songs favor fade-outs or just spill into the next track, a la the AM band on a transistor radio that’s swinging from the handlebars of a bicycle with a glittery banana seat. “Time Won’t Lie” even has handclaps amid the harmonies.
Late track “New Year” underscores that while Lunchbox are built from classic elements, Pop and Circumstance isn’t a predictable retro retread. “All Around the World” reengages with the Schneider-esque Elephant 6 vibe for the close of a record that flows with the intensity of a debut but thrives on the wise maneuvers that stem from experience.
GRADED ON A CURVE:
A-
