The Chap: Mega Breakfast

Sounds Like: Irony.

RIYL: Mekons, Neu!, David Bowie, CSS

A Few Words: At first listen I thought it was a new Flight of the Conchords record: that farcical portrayal of synth pop and Bowie-esque vocals. On further spins, though, I realized that The Chap are, ironically, being sincere in their satire. The Chap's album Mega Breakfast puts pop music on the treadmill and screams, "Sweat, you bitch!" It has a similar effect to watching hordes of homophobic frat brats do the YMCA

Yet The Chap are not a comedy act; they're honest-to-god musicians. The difference between them and, say, Be Your Own Pet, is that The Chap actually read the books at school. Not that literacy makes for good music, mind you; just that it makes for a richer, more enthralling experience. Like the difference between an 86 Ridgefield Cab Sav and grape Kool-Aid. Or maybe it's Kool-Aid in the cab. Whatever. It's cool like tight pants on Francis (Buxton). I haven't heard mock pop this intelligent since Mekons released Me. The ease with which it fits into the genre that it satirizes is testament to its artfulness: it's not just smart, it's goddamn good.

Download "Proper Rock" from The Chap's debut album, Mega Breakfast

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