Let's start with the pop: There's the lilting, Shins-like "800 lb. Gorilla," as well as two indie-paeans to high-school humiliation -- the horns-abetted "Oh My" and "M.I.A.," which sounds like Brian Jonestown Massacre covering Simon & Garfunkel's "Cecilia."
As for the bash, MGB churns out Pixies-ish throttle like the pogoing "Gentleman's Reply," the joyously off-kilter "Build Me a Ladder," and the furiously jangling "Uh-Oh . . . ," where they admit to hanging "with the hobos drinking gin/Never knowing what it is in." And with its opening complaint, "I hate the light of day," the accordion-driven "Dirty Pipes" could serve as a slacker anthem for half of Lakewood while competing with "Build Me a Ladder" for best track. But with 16 terrific cuts, Music for Parents rivals recent releases by Bears and Houseguest for top-to-bottom excellence and might be better for its breadth.
