A perfectly named rock album, Sweet Cactus is both pretty and prickly, with gritty guitars that are glorious even from afar. Combining Bowie's penchant for cynical glamour and Oasis's knack for musical grandeur, Neon Thrills sounds more like an aging major-label icon than a fresh young indie band. But aging doesn't necessarily mean fading. Aggressive and full of attitude, "Nothing Wrong" hops into the ring with a contagious hook of cynicism and a strong jab of straight-ahead rock 'n' roll resonance. A bit repetitive, the powerfully poppy "Disgraceful" just continually begs to be put on the ropes, yet somehow manages to keep kicking in. "Everyone Just Takes and Takes" rises up with the gutteral vocal fury and raging guitar solos of '80s hair bands, resurrecting like the aerosol afterspray of a can of Aquanet. And "For All I Know" signs off with a delicate nod to Queen's mastery of melody. All-in-all, a full power-pack of party-pop anthems.

A. Koledin