Magic Bullets

When it comes to criminally ignored debuts, Magic Bullets' A Child But In Life Yet A Doctor In Love is mighty high up there on the list. Despite the album's witty, playful take on '80s jangle pop, the record raised few eyebrows, at least north of the border. Now, three years older and minus some members thanks to Girls, the San Franciscans are back with album two and, with any luck, history won't repeat itself. Going the textbook sophomore effort route of smoothing out the edges and embracing a more sophisticated sound, this self-titled record still packs in the boyish pop charms, often taking a page straight out of the Orange Juice songbook, while giving love to the Cure and West coast. Combine that with some good old songwriting smarts and snappy wordplay, and it can be one fetching, no-bullshit formula, even with the influences right there on the sleeve. After all, not every band need rip it up and start again.