THINK LIKE A KEY MUSIC

Indie popsters Ex Norwegian’s 14th album serves up eleven sun-drenched, irreverent rock anthems perfect for those bright day radio rotations and today’s edgy streaming playlists. Tracks like “Real Bad Bunny” and “Scalers Blues” blend irresistible melodic twists that turn quirky lyrics into clever hooks, epitomizing what great pop music should sound like. While songs such as “Short On The Wire” and “Send Nudes” radiate a full band sound, the album reveals its secret: it’s an impressive solo endeavor via Roger Houdaille. The playful lyric from “Extra” — “the band is extra, we got none tonight, it’s alright” — lends a cheeky nuance to the album’s title, Sooo Extra, suggesting there’s more beneath the surface than first meets the ear.