Sock It to Me

The deadpan sweetness of Colleen Green’s vocals is matched by a sly intelligence and a firm grasp on songcraft. The Oakland, Calif.–based singer/songwriter infuses her debut album, Sock It to Me, with yearning tinged with droll humor, all wrapped in a minimal pop-punk sound built around her sturdy electric guitar and drum machine. Strains of classic girl groups can be heard in her romantic musings; her simple but insidiously catchy melodies bring The Ramones to mind. Green’s boyfriend obsessions on tracks like “Yr So Cool,” “Darkest Eyes," and “Every Boy Wants a Normal Girl” hint at irony around the edges but retain a bleary-eyed innocence. The title track introduces a note of disco-esque sexiness, while “Time in the World” and “Close to You” add ‘80s-style synthesizer for color. When she chooses, Green can deliver hit-worthy numbers with a wry twist, as “Taxi Driver” shows. Sock It to Me teases (and pleases) by stripping its thoughts and music down to the barest essentials. Green may opt for more refinements in the future, but her first long-player stands as a testament to her quirky sense of restraint.