THINK LIKE A KEY MUSIC

Thirty minutes, a dozen songs, and Ex Norwegian's lucky 13th album hits like "searching for lost, hidden treasure that hadn't been open for 20 years." Roger Houdaille's Spook Du Jour is what happens when sweet powerpop gets a taste for the dark side—blending "moody art rock" with "roots in Bowie and the Velvet Underground" across bite-sized gems that clock in under three minutes. From the "very catchy" powerpop of "Teen Bakery" to the "driving glam-meets-Krautrock" of "For Your Conveniences" and the "Bolan-esque 'Ciancia,'" this is Miami Beach's most delightfully irreverent band proving that "all songs are rock (or: pop) solid" while serving up the unexpected. It's a mixtape for misfits, a treasure chest of quirky perfection, and proof that sometimes the best albums are the ones that completely abandon their original plan and embrace beautiful chaos instead.