The World Provider

Q: How do babies look each other up online?
A: They do a GooGoo search.

This is one of many semi-brilliant jokes found in The World Provider's accompanying activity book to this debut LP, which includes a maze, riddles and a guest spot from Feist. What more could one ask for? The World Provider's lo-fi sound is almost as fun to describe as doing the maze included in the fun book. It features a mix of indie pop traditions like bouncy drums, quirky keyboards and untouched vocals. Said vocals are in your face, as are the playground melodies, which work well over the simple but layered instrumentation. This all means Hard Feelings is like the soundtrack to your favourite cartoon being made into a feature film. While it's playful, colourful and danceable, it also rocks louder and for a lot longer. Still, much like 1987's hyper-brilliant animated feature film The Chipmunk Adventure, all the fun blends into one big helium high after a while. Like with Alvin, Simon and Theodore, you'll have a great time as long as you don't take Hard Feelings too seriously.