* PREORDER * CHEAP TIME - Fantastic Explanations (And Similar Situations) LP

* PREORDER * expected to arrive early-mid March

Highly recommended.

Not since I last heard the Guinea Worms or Yummy Fur has an album made me smile quite so much.

Not because of the dumbness of the music and lyrics – although Fantastic Explanations (And Similar Situations) prove Cheap Time are an alumni of the Redd Kross, Ramones and Replacements' school of punk power pop – but because lead singer Jeffrey Novak has a voice like a teenager whose just been informed it's his turn to clean the poop out of the cat's litter tray.

His sulky drawl sounds like he's been lazing around in bed for a week and has eventually emerged with a mouthful of duvet. The vocal petulance is so palpable it's easy to imagine Novak's stage act including plenty of stamping of feet, shrugging of shoulders and incomprehensible grunts.

Having said that, my love for Cheap Time is strong!