MisterWives' sophomore effort is a buoyant, groove-heavy affair that builds upon the joyous '80s-influenced indie pop sound from their 2015 debut. A tight 11 tracks long,
Connect the Dots is so infectiously charming it could border on the precious, but the New York-based sextet are so committed and exuberant that it's difficult not to get swept up by their youthful energy. On the defiant
Sia-meets-
No Doubt dancehall opener "Machine,"
MisterWives pile horns, driving drums, and elastic bass over empowering lyrics like "We're not part of your machine!" before sidling up next to like-minded contemporaries
Paramore on the sunny "Chasing This." Highlights abound on
Connect the Dots. "Only Human" features one of their strongest melodic hooks, while the anthemic, crowd-ready "Revolution" rallies listeners with cries of "Let's start a revolution/Where we all stand as one" in a noble attempt to tackle larger social issues. The rollicking "Out of Tune Piano" stomps with
Regina Spektor-like mirth, while "Oh Love" flexes its rock muscle with heavy vocal distortion and jagged riffs. Standing high above it all, closer "Let the Light In" is the album's standout. The hard-hitting new wave epic is pure
Eurythmics, right down to vocalist Mandy Lee's
Annie Lennox harmonics. While the rest of
Connect the Dots is a solid step forward for the group, this track is the most exciting hint at their potential. Defeating the specter of the sophomore slump with confidence and a smile,
MisterWives infuse their colorful sonic spectrum with enough new ideas to evolve and mature with grace. [
Connect the Dots was also released on LP.] ~ Neil Z. Yeung