Crocodiles - Hearts Of Love

As every hack and his dog turns attention to albums of the year lists, US noise-popniks Crocodiles can consider themselves contenders – no mean feat after patchy 2009 debut ‘Summer Of Hate’. This year’s follow-up ‘Sleep Forever’ showed surprising focus, filling the gaps in that patchiness to produce a tight, sprightly surf-pop belter.

Some credit’s surely due to producer James Ford, who presumably concentrated a few minds, but it’s the songwriting that’s most improved and ‘Hearts Of Love’ has the edge, swinging in for four fun-packed minutes that feel much shorter. Open and anthemic, it bellows its killer hook - ‘Oh, when I die / When I disappear / Leave my bones behind’ - as if it bears all the joys of summer. Brandon Welchez sings with a curled lip thrown in, a Reid brother in all but name as Crocodiles ape the Jesus And Mary Chain in their long-held quest to duff up The Beach Boys.

‘Hearts Of Love’ is rude and brash, hounded by jagged guitars and a chorus that’s a burst of clarity in a murky din. The sort of thing The Big Pink would be doing, if they were any good.