For All Mankind

The Phenomenauts sound like a perfect fusion of the new wave revival of the early 2000s (poppy-punky synth rock bands like the Epoxies and Controller.Controller) and the tongue in cheek, futuristic surf rock of '90s indie heroes Man or Astro-man?. Third album For All Mankind is jam-packed with all manner of synth-pop, retro-rockabilly, and post-punk tropes — including, brilliantly, a cover of a genuine new wave chestnut, the Polecats' entirely appropriate 1982 synthabilly hit "Make a Circuit with Me" — mixed with a campily geeky sci-fi persona that presents the Oakland-based quintet in goofy outfits silly enough to get them laughed out of the nearest comic book convention and singing lyrics equally inspired by Isaac Asimov and the Sci-Fi Channel's movie of the week. One probably needs a working knowledge of the subculture to get all of the jokes, but the neat thing about For All Mankind is that it isn't just jokes: opening track "Man Alone" is built on a chorus of "All of us, we should have a mission/We should have a purpose," a dead serious statement of inclusion and social connectivity. Of course, that's immediately followed by "Cyborg," a country-style ballad about a guy whose attempt to manufacture the perfect girlfriend ends in tears, so there's a number of giggles to be had as well. A must for the new wave and/or Battlestar Galactica fans on your Christmas list, For All Mankind is light, frothy fun with just enough musical and lyrical substance to keep it from being brainlessly corny.