They simply don’t make albums like Thought Bubble, from The Scrub Ups, anymore. And, we’re not just talking about the full 11 tracks the band cranks out on this affair, either.

No, this is something like, but actually much more than, a throwback to when music was raucous, unbridled, and something altogether of its own. The project takes the best of music of all genres or, perhaps, of the rock variety from which hit’s obviously descended.

The songs are unusually fast—for music these days—consistently hovering around the 120 BPM marker. They’re as playful as they are dangerous, encompassing a spectrum of feelings in what, for the majority of the tunes, are little more than three minutes and some change.

And they get you on the dance floor the way that vintage Chuck Berry, or Buddy Lee Holly, might’ve done in the 50’s with the full backdrop of a diner, a couple of vanilla shakes, and that jukebox in the corner was designed to do.

In fact, you’ve got to go a long time, and search exceedingly hard, to find anything that misses on this affair. “Unlove You” typifies the dichotomy of emotions that abound on this oeuvre, with the lead singer meditating on unloving someone so hard that it just might be a threat—or a call for you to sing along with him.

The drumming is up front and prominent on most of these numbers, which is saying something, especially because it appears to be played live. The songwriting is all but unimpeachable, with tight choruses, a bevy of pleasing melodies on the verses, and an interchange of energy between the male lead singer and the female background singer (Beth O’Donnell, who also handles some of the guitar work) that is nothing short of infectious.

“Enemies” also displays the fun danger that characterizes a fair amount of cuts on this one. The acousit guitars are indelible, although one can make the case that the banjo is even better. The singers all but scream that their enemies are “wrong when they think of me”, but they do it so well, it’s hard to believe them, because it sounds so right.

One can easily stake that claim about the rest of the tunes, which simply isn’t easily done anymore.