Album of the Day

Wolverhampton's The Mighty Lemon Drops were among the British indie bands featured on the NME's seminal C86 cassette and were snapped up by Sire Records for U.S. releases. The quartet's debut for the label, HAPPY HEAD, was a strong one, spiking psychedelic-tinged post-punk with plenty of Rickenbacker jangle. If their lyrics are occasionally melancholy, guitarist Dave Newton and bassist Tony Linehan write songs with bright melodies, tight structures and irresistible hooks, and you may find yourself humming “Like An Angel,” “My Biggest Thrill” or “The Other Side Of You” (a minor U.K. hit) for days. The collection as a whole made the U.K. album chart, and HAPPY HEAD remains among the Mighty Lemon Drops' tastiest releases.