Love Visions

iTunes Review

Justin Champlin conjures one heck of a primitive musical id as Nobunny. Bunny-masked and shirtless onstage — and equally raucous in your earbuds — Champlin might be more fun than a room full of drunk monkeys and only marginally safer to be around. His first full-length recording, Love Visions starts off with “Nobunny Loves You,” a bastardized version of the ‘60s classic “Nobody But Me” (by the Human Beinz) and seques into a Cramps-ish “I Know, I Know.” Champlin’s blood courses with a classic punk ethos, but it’s tempered by a love of bubblegum pop and ‘60s garage, and, really, what could be a better mix? Just after you’ve sniffed out the remnants of the Rubinoos’ “I Want to Be Your Boyfriend” on “I Am a Girlfriend,” a strong whiff of 1977-era CBGB’s emerges from “Tina Goes to Work.” Other tracks, like “Church Mouse” and “Somewhere New” pay homage to the Ramones, and though Nobunny lacks the power of that seminal band, Champlin gets the point across with headbanging clarity. (“Not That Good,” which is great, comes closest to a real Ramones knock-out.)  A little creepy and a whole lotta fun, you need Nobunny at your next house party.