Before I start this review, let me just get something out of the way: I picked up this CD solely because of the title. I imagine that was sort of the point in naming your band Starfucker-- if it does anything, it catches people’s.  Fortunately, Starfucker has more to offer than a vulgar name.

            Starfucker is an indie-electronica trio from Portland, Oregon made up of Josh Hodges on drums and Ryan Biornstad and Shawn Glassford on everything else. The electronica element is extremely present here, with songs like “Hard Smart Beta” or “Myke Ptyson” being carried almost solely by synth. There vocals are sparse and quiet. Many songs are purely instrumental or topped with the occasional “lalala” as in the appropriately titled “laadeedaa”. It’s got an 8-bit chiptune feel mixed with 80’s hip hop and a liberal dash of indie rock. The music bounces along in a aimless, happy, spaced-out way, with little particular direction. There’s not really a whole lot of depth to it-- and judging from the song titles and the band’s name, you can’t really expect too much in that department.

            However, after listening to the album a few times, I realized something-- by the time just about any song on the album finished, I would discover that I had somehow developed a big stupid grin on my face. In that lies Starf*cker’s strong suit: they’re fun. It’s spacey, pointless, happy music, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. Even the most subdued song, the shimmering, dream-like “Isabella of Castile”, maintains the same floating feeling of contentment. Despite sometimes lacking in substance, Starf*cker is light, easy, inventive, and a pleasure to listen to.

             And come on, you can’t tell me you don’t want to listen to a band named Starf*cker. Just seeing the name in my playlist makes me giggle with immature glee.

4/5 Woovies: Give this album to an emo kid for Christmas. If it doesn’t cheer him up, nothing will.