Proof of Youth

iTunes Review

Proof of Youth surprised all those who thought this English group’s debut, Thunder, Lightning, Strike, was both an anomaly and a one-trick pony. While the songs here once again dig deep into pop culture’s pockets (‘70s urban funk, airy ‘60s pop, swaggering “lady MC” and hip-hop flourishes, clanging indie rock guitars, and double Dutch and cheerleading shout-alongs), founder Ian Parton has traded in some of the heavy sampling for live instruments and vocals, resulting in a fuller, more “live” and, frankly, more sophisticated sound. When you’ve worked up a sweat from opener “Grip Like a Vice” (featuring lead vocalist Ninja’s staccato girl-power rap) and the shamelessly youthful, exuberant “Doing It Right,” “My World” offers two minutes of gentle acoustic guitars and warm Casio tones to catch your breath by. Once recharged, your inner Energizer bunny can keep hopping to the roaring “Titanic Vandalism,” or shift into an indie-pop shimmy on “Fake ID.” With smart pacing and interesting textures, even the criminally hooky “Keys to the City,” the bubbly “I Never Needed It Now So Much” (featuring Solex on vocals), and the dark energy of “Flashlight Fight” (featuring Public Enemy’s Chuck D) won’t leave you in a deflated, collapsed heap on the floor. It will just leave you smiling.