Wallpaper for the Soul

Happily, Tahiti 80 have clearly absorbed some of the more pertinent lessons of the El experience. Singer and songwriter Xavier Boyer manages to imbue his lightweight confections with just enough weight to keep them moored to planet Earth--it's an ability he shares with Tahiti 80's most crucial inspiration, the Beach Boys, and Tahiti 80's most obvious contemporary kin, Saint Etienne. In less capable hands, songs such as "1,000 Times" and "Get Yourself Together" could have been mere candy floss. Tahiti 80 have managed something more substantial, and this fine group become more intriguing with every release. --Andrew Mueller