Album Notes

Seattle preppy pop punks Tennis Pro take a swing at some lofty predecessors on their new disc, Cassie's Junior Varsity Make-Out Squad. Elements of Weezer, the Beach Boys, and Fountains of Wayne ("Taking Your Mom Home Tonight," the least inspired concept of the bunch) get served snotty attitude, sweet keyboard licks, and subtle distortion as the Pro turn out a few ace power-pop tracks in the process. Indie-boy irony also finds a home here and works best when it's more clever than clumsy. "We Put the Punk in the Punctuation" is one of Cassie's more imaginative offerings, with the addition of both a horn section and such droll plays on words as "I'm planting kisses on your sweet ellipses." As the album moves along, Tennis Pro develop an increasing proclivity toward experimentation, unraveling an otherwise straightforward pop structure and pushing Tennis Pro out of the shadows of their obvious pop idols. JENNIFER MAERZ (The Stranger)