The long anticipated domestic release of the latest Bis album is finally upon us, just in time to help kick the end-of-summer blahs. I must admit that prior to Social Dancing I wasn’t really a fan. There were times when Manda Rin’s screeching made me want to punch my fist through a wall. However, I’m far too conscientious of my manicure to have ever really done that. But believe me, I did give it some serious thought, and I’m not alone; someone I know who is a steadfast Bis fan once likened her ‘singing’ to something akin to a squealing pig stuck in a drain pipe. But Social Dancing ushers in a new era because thank the Gods, Manda Rin took voice lessons.

It’s a hyper and energetic album that immediately kicks into high gear with "Making People Normal," that cheekily name checks Ricki Lake and Jenny Jones thanking them for making them over into something more socially acceptable. Never without irony or bratty insolence, Rin, Sci-Fi Steven and John Disco cook up some tremendously impertinent and damn catchy lyrics. "I’m A Slut" blatantly thumbs its nose at possessive boyfriends with the choice verse "Why can’t I wear make-up tonight?/Don’t really think my t-shirt’s too tight/Going out can’t let me out of your sight/Can I see my friends without a fight." and the AM radio fiesta of "Action and Drama" is the only song I know of to rhyme the phrase ‘eighties Madonna’ with Bananarama. "I’m Stronger Now" is a throwback to 80’s new wave and John Disco seems to be channeling the non-Bjork member of The Sugarcubes.

The most marked maturation on the album is the first single, the aptly named "Detour," which is a sultry drum and bass driven track that includes a guest appearance by Olympia, WA’s resident indie queen, Lois.

"Sale or Return" is also a bit of a drum and bassy divergence and faintly reminds the listener of a spy theme. And for good reason; it includes a sample of John Cacavas’ "Agent Who." The brats are slowly but surely on the way to growing up.

The sound of Bis, which Manda Rin has described as punktechnodisco, is about as apt a description of the band that you’re likely to find. But with the release of Social Dancing you could probably find a few more adjectives to stuff into that word. While tracks like "The Hit Girl" and "Listen Up" founder to find their place amongst the rest of the tracks on the album, the orchestral strings of "Theme From Tokyo" and throbbing bass of UK club anthem "Eurodisco" show that these three kids from Scotland have a thing or two up their sleeves. Packed with more energy than all three Powerpuff Girls combined, it’s no surprise that the band was tapped to record the show’s theme song. Teen-C power, indeed.

[86%] B

Buy Social Dancing at Amazon.com!

Check out http://www.bisnation.com or http://www.grandroyal.com for more info about Bis. Catch them on tour this fall as well as their show at NYC’s Bowery Ballroom on September 18th for the CMJ Showcase (Check http://www.cmj.com/marathon99/ for more info).