If you haven't heard of the band Head Automatica yet, you will soon. With the striking, alternative pop single "Graduation Day" climbing the charts, this is one band that will soon take off.

"Popaganda" is the sophomore album from Head Automatica. The band released an album in 2004 titled "Decadence" that went fairly unnoticed.

Lead singer Daryl Palumbo doesn't shy away from the fact that the band has a pop sound. He said he feels pop music has gotten a bad reputation and that true pop is the punk energy of groups such as Elvis Costello and the Attractions and not the latest winner of American Idol.

Head Automatica is a cross between the vocal sound of Jet to the arrangement style of the All American Rejects. For this album the band worked with producer Howard Benson, who has worked with My Chemical Romance, to help achieve its vocal and song arrangements.

"Graduation Day" is the first single off the record and it's a catchy, likable song. The sounds of the album vary from garage-rock type feel of "Curious" to a mellow doo-wop style on "Scandalous." One song that has completely been stuck in my head for the past couple of days is "Cannibal Girl." The standout piano fills the song with a distinct sound. Lyrics such as "The cold war on the sofa is getting closer/and she's the hardest thing to do when the mantis in her preys on you" make the sound way more interesting.

All of Head Automatica's lyrics are unique with lines such as "I got away with murder last night in the parking lot/in cold blood I have murdered parts of us that we forgot."

This album doesn't try to prove the band's musical worth; it's an album full of likable songs with intriguing lyrics. It's a perfect summer album to listen to in the car. The songs feel short as you listen to them, with the longest being 4:48 and the shortest being 2:45. Palumbo said the band purposely avoided six minute songs to retain interest in all the songs.

On the band's myspace account, which is myspace.com/headautomatica, you can listen to the entire album. After you listen to the fun but offbeat songs, buy this album and support a new band.

The music industry was definitely in need of some fresh meat with this band's diverse sound and album.

B+
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