The Muffs: Happy Birthday To Me

The brassy, raspy, poppy punk-rock of The Muffs is so good that the L.A. band has earned a luxury usually only afforded to bands like Ramones: Its formula is so hummably winning that it has the right—and perhaps even the obligation—to record the same album over and over again. The new Happy Birthday To Me barely tweaks the sound of its first two records, yet it sounds just right. Why change your approach when you've got it just right Kim Shattuck's vocals still ooze unmistakably Joan Jettish attitude, and her band still keeps everything as concise as possible: Lose the obligatory bonus track, and all 15 songs are over and ready to be replayed after a mere 35 minutes. The album's momentum is such that it feels like The Muffs recorded it live in the studio straight through without a break. Is Happy Birthday To Me innovative or earth-shatteringly original Of course not, but it's an awful lot of deliriously spirited fun. What could be better