Skeletons

iTunes Review

It’s hard enough to believe that adolescent garage rockers Tiny Masters of Today are responsible for all the great music on Skeletons, their second release, but now we’re to believe they actually produced the thing themselves. (Taking in their debut, Bang Bang Boom Cake, without major skepticism was hard enough!) Dumping Blues Explosion’s Russell Simins as producer and drummer, the Tiny Masters (guitarist Ivan, now 15, and sister Ada on bass, now 13) opted to bring in 18-year-old drummer Jackson Pollis and produce Skeletons themselves, using Garage Band at home and a little studio help in the end. Surprisingly, Skeletons does sound a little cleaner and more focused than the debut, but it still exudes a fervent passion for the frugal, primitive spirit of punk rock, with simple chords and workhorse percussion (laced with strong dance beats) driving detached, effects-laden vocals. The collection is well represented by the opening track, “Drop the Bomb!,” which is a ridiculously cool mash of surf, hip-hop, and dance club grooves, dripping in reverb and attitude and “Pop Chart.” Both would make excellent soundtrack tunes for summer fun.