Hockey Dad, Muuy Biien, Cool American
Recommended
The opening notes of Mr. Bones’ sophomore LP, Bites, reveal its tenderness: “I Adore You” is a soaring guitar-pop cutie in the vein of Mates of State and Weezer, with vocalist Leland Brehl’s falsetto yearning for some affection. Their tune “Do You Wanna Feel Alright?” is basically the feel-good anthem of every person with a pulse, and a spoonful of sugar to the real heavy medicine of the mopey, brilliantly slacker-influenced grunge-pop of “candlewax,database,” where cacophony and heart suddenly smash into each other at warp speed. Mr. Bones’ take on these punk traditions isn’t always revolutionary, but when it hits, it hits hard, and that’s really all that matters. RYAN J. PRADO