Partie Traumatic

Black Kids
Mercury

Can you be spoiled by success before you've had any? On the strength of their infectious single "I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You," a blast of sugary pop reminiscent of The Cure at their most playful, these poor Kids have been touted to the skies as the Next Big Thing. Not surprisingly, their debut album doesn't quite live up to the hype. All the elements are in place, except for that bit of rocket fuel that would propel the disc into the stratosphere where it rightfully belongs. There's plenty to like here: killer hooks, cute lyrics, and a presumably tongue-in-cheek combo of wonderfully cheesy guitar riffs and cheesier synths. It's all catchy as hell and plays like an intriguing blend of the winking camp sensibilities of The B-52's with the comparative seriousness of David Bowie; but without the former's energy and the latter's precision, nothing on the album sticks, leaving Partie Traumatic enjoyable but forgettable.