Bad Moves - Wearing Out the Refrain

There are uncomfortable truths littered throughout Bad Moves' latest rallying call, but you'll have to be paying real attention to feel the full force of the DC indie heroes' ire.

You see, Bad Moves may play politically and socially aware indie punk, but they're also not ones for beating you around the head with empty platitudes and sloganeering.

Instead, 'Wearing Out the Refrain' is another prime slice of infectious, mosh pit-friendly power-pop anthems, with the group's wildly inventive, grin-inducing gang vocals and harmonies pushed to the fore. It means their acerbic messaging is easily digestible, like a sugar-coated bitter pill.

Their targets are many, too. Religion - both pointedly and in allegory - comes in for a jolly good kicking on the likes of 'Hallelujah', as does the vapid and empty consumption of media ('I Know, I Know') and the police. Throughout, however, there's a sense of fun - and even when discussing the end of the world, like on the brilliant 'Let the Rats Inherit the Earth' - Bad Moves want you to move your feet.

At times, 'Wearing Out the Refrain' recalls the New Pornographers at their hyperactive best - and there's certainly an element of 'Twin Cinema' era Pornos about the aforementioned '…Rats…', and the brilliant 'Days Don't Quit' - but the razor-sharp lyrics owe as much to the likes of Martha as they do the Canadian supergroup.

Nevertheless, politically and socially informed punk doesn't get any better than this.