Astralwerks/Capitol

As the story goes, Albert Hammond Jr. of Strokes fame found these four twentysomethings playing in an East Village bar in New York City when they were still in high school, and declared that he wanted to help produce their debut. This self-titled 11-track record is the result of that partnership and is a welcome follow up to early 2010’s much buzzed about White Night EP. Here, The Postelles perform sunny garage rock with smooth ‘50s and early ‘60s rock sensibilities. Songs like “Stella” and “123 Stop” are high-energy power pop while “Sleep on the Dance Floor” and “Hold On” are retro prom ballads spattered with Motown melodies. Throughout the album, the band wavers between vintage bubblegum pop and fresh British-sounding punk thanks in part to Daniel Balk’s distinctive leads vocals.