Elephant Shell is the Canadian-pop sensation, Tokyo Police Club’s, first full length album set to be released late this April. The small group, composed of four members, have been hard at work in the studio under their new label, Saddle Creek Records, creating blessed music for your ears. And I must say, they’ve certainly done a great job.

This newest album is a lot of what you’d expect from Tokyo Police Club but you can certainly hear a huge growth of maturity from the boys. Elephant Shell definitely sounds a lot more like an actual album than just a compilation of demos. Everything is crisper, cleaner, and clearer than it was in A Lesson in Crime. Their new sound is a lot less “punk” and everything is much more relaxed. It’s not going to put you to sleep, but it’s not going to pump you up either. Elephant Shell eased off the gas pedal and decided to cruise along while A Lesson in Crime is more concerned about speeding past you; leaving you in a cloud of dust.

Dave Monks’ (lead vocals) voice is now very soothing in his own, unique and shockingly, a little feminine, way. In the first track, “Centennial”, you may be a little surprised to notice that Monks’ testicles are actually quite possibly..ascending? But not to fear, just like a thirteen year-old boy going through puberty, his voice slowly starts to enter manhood throughout the album’s tracks. Overall, the whole CD sounds a little the same but this is a positive for someone who really enjoys their stuff. All-in-all, no complaints here.

It seems like I’m going backwards in time with these reviews. The albums are getting older, but the bands are getting better. The Unicorns are a pop-synth band from Canada (where all the best pop-synth music is created) that broke up in late ‘04. After heated arguments and intense touring, the band collapsed due to rising tensions finally bursting. Later on, two of the three unicorns ended up forming a similar band called Islands, which is due to release a second album this April.

Now, this CD may be aged but just like a fine wine, it only gets better as it matures. Full of fun and fancy beats, Who Will Cut Our Hair When We’re Gone? is not like all the other albums spawned in Montreal. These guys perfect the beloved essence of pop music to deliver you a dose of fully-polished songs that will infect your mind with their catchy tunes and childish lyrics. The only way to keep them out is to let them in; so, open your doors and welcome in their quirky choruses and whacky verses with arms wide open.

I tend to start at the beginning of this album to only find myself at the end moments later. The CD flies down your ears smoothly, banging on your ear drums with each pleasant, passing tone. In a way, their music lacks structure but they still manage to keep it ringing through your head. With silly lyrics and an immature disposition, their album is the Toys ‘R Us of the music world. It’s a place you still dream about, even as an adult.

This isn’t exactly the newest album but it’s still something I look forward to listening to every time I open up my iTunes. They’re currently finishing up their newest album Elephant Shell which is rumored to be released around April under their new label Saddle Creek. Canada seems to produce a delicious breed of indie-pop which I have grown to love with each new band I learn about and Tokyo Police Club is no exception.

Since most bands don’t tend to sing about robots taking over the world, as heard in “Citizens of Tomorrow,” there aren’t a lot of similar sounds to them for comparison. They’re more of a modern version of The Unicorns without the overkill of the synthesizer. Tokyo Police Club takes on the role of a typical rock band but clashes it with some electronic harmonies to ’spicen’ it up. They deliver a perfect blend of the two, except to a higher degree and with a faster pace to give it that extra kick you’ve been yearning for.

Tokyo Police Club’s high energy performances are what pull you in, their rhythmic clapping is what hypnotizes you, and their music is what keeps you coming back. Somewhat similar to mythical sirens except with better intentions. These guys are just looking out for your ears’ best interests.