With their sophomore studio album, the Grass Valley, Calif.–based The Soft Bombs ramp up their psychedelic guitar-pop leanings with more innovative production and a grip of catchier songs. The opening number, “I’m Alive,” cleverly borrows from the main melody of Mighty Baby’s 1969 gem “Egyptian Tomb.” Frontman, guitarist, and producer Michal Padilla pumps vintage-sounding guitars and amps through effects that have a lot in common with British shoegazing and early-'90s Britpop records. The warm and jangly guitars in “Midnight” are contrasted with a jaunty bounce reminiscent of Blur’s Parklife, while “Somewhere” slithers on the serpentine cool of early Spiritualized over a grinding Hammond organ reminiscent of the first two albums by The Charlatans UK. With a heaping dose of bass and guitar distortion, “I Like” displays more originality; Padilla imports chirping Speak & Spell tones from an old analog keyboard before the guitars erupt with volcanic effects that Kevin Shields would approve of. The outstanding cut “A Love Divine” perfectly balances ‘60s psychedelia and ‘90s shoegazing.