Grand Buffet

Mounted on cheesy, rudimentary, '80s-style synth samples and sputtering drumbeats, the wiseacres of Pittsburgh's Grand Buffet spent a dozen years honing their craft. While the scent of nerd is strong in the prolific pair, their off-kilter attack and literate litanies recall King Missile or They Might Be Giants more than MC Chris. Catchy melodies bear a lot of the responsibility here, as the duo proves it knows how to fashion a vocal hook, baiting the same with praiseworthy science. Lacking the self-serious pretensions that grip many of its indie peers, Grand Buffet spices its blend with plenty of humorous throwaway lines ("Beef jerky satiates my bloodlust"), canny observations ("Every victory is initially an obstacle") and goofy insouciance (the duo's ode to self-actualization, "Oh My God You're So Weird") on its new full-length, Killer Vision.