The Brunettes — Paper Dolls

As fun and light as The Brunettes' fourth studio album is, listeners shouldn't ignore its social commentary.

Songs like the xylophone-happy opener "In Colours," the somewhat spooky-sounding "Bedroom Disco" and the robotic "Connection" may come across as silly and disposable, but there's something deeper than their simple construction initially suggests.  

The duo of Jonathan Bree and Heather Mansfield not only observe and dissect, but comment on society in terms of interaction and technology, and they do so by interlacing brilliant little lines into their synth-happy tracks.

In "Magic (No Bunny)" they sing, "Your frames are practical, but by no means boutique," leaving me torn between believing this is hipster pretension or merely observation. They continue with these pointed commentaries throughout, and it's this sarcastic side of them that adds to their appeal.

"Red Rollerskates," a simple, catchy track that leaves me longing for summer and beach boardwalks, is a standout. It keeps to The Brunettes' light side, but lacks the annoyance of similar tracks like "The Crime Machine."

Sly commentary or not, Paper Dolls is a bouncy, quirky and free-spirited release, making it a fun and refreshing listen.

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