Athens (Georgia) quartet Honeypuppy made a strong first impression with their excellent debut EP early last year, and I’m glad to see them graduate to a full-length—Dirty TV—and do so successfully, even if eight tracks feels just a bit short. But who’s counting when the record’s this fun front to back?

I’ve seen the band described as bubblegrunge—a lively mix of bubblegum pop and ‘90s grunge—and that checks out. Honeypuppy balances sugary sweet melodies with punchy, distorted rock outs, playing a charming push and pull that would’ve fit right into the ‘90s alt-pop scene. But the band would feel just as much at home alongside early 2010s beach pop acts like Best Coast and Bleached. Expect playful guitar lines, sun-bleached melodies, occasional shadows, and vocals that sound like they’re coming through a sepia-toned filter. Start with the opening standout Understatement and you’ll quickly get a feel for Honeypuppy’s many charms.

Dirty TV is out now through Indecent Artistry

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