Throw Me The Statue

Don't let the naked ladies on the cover fool you: Throw Me The Statue's fizzy debut Moonbeams is as naughty as a Billy Joel record. As a collection of instantly likeable pop songs, it's also similarly well-crafted and catchy, packaging warm synths, tightly strummed acoustic guitars, and chunky drum machine beats into sugary, bite-sized pieces that melt away after a few breezy minutes. There isn't much to "Your Girlfriend's Car" and "This Is How We Kiss" beyond surface infectiousness, but as a record constructed to be enjoyed in the moment, Moonbeams captivates like a late summer crush. Once the moment ends, though, what's left are enjoyable but slight songs with hooks that don't quite hold.