Sunset Valley's second album,
Boyscout Superhero, delivers more fun new wave power pop with psychedelic touches. The album's highlights include the sassy harmonies and backing vocals on "I Got Fair," the sharp guitars and squelchy synths on "Megapills," and the
Redd Kross-esque "City of Bees." The group's sweet, spacey ballads also shine, especially "Fairy Theory," which features cute lyrics like "you tiptoe through mint juleps," and "Doll Hill,"
Boyscout Superhero's dreamy, slightly surfy closer. However,
Sunset Valley stumbles when they try to "rock out," as on the overblown, drawn-out "Tornado" and "Jackass Crusher," which almost ruin the rest of the album's speedy, sprightly momentum. While
Boyscout Superhero is sometimes frustratingly inconsistent, it's most successful when the group doesn't take itself too seriously. ~ Heather Phares