The Best Party Ever, Really!!!

Rarely do albums like The Best Party Ever come along and turn the world on its ear with boundless imagination and melancholy joy. That’s the fun in discovering them, either at the time of release or later on. Through the looking glass of childhood, this debut from The Boy Least Likely To is like a summer sunshine view of love, life, and paranoia shown through topics of monsters, apple wagons, and “Warm Panda Cola.” This album is one preciously shiny gem of fuzzy-wuzzy pop psychedelia after another beginning with the innocent friendship of “Be Gentle With Me.” Jof, the singer, uses child-like narration which yields innocence and adult self-appraisal. Lyrics like “I don’t think I’ll ever be happy/Unless I’m unhappy” from “Hugging My Grudge” are awash in sunny, swirling organs, harmonicas and acoustic guitars creating that perfect duality. This album is packed with exponential amounts of cuddliness from the broken-hearted “Paper Cuts” to life happening in “I’m Glad I Hitched My Apple Wagon to Your Star.” Listeners will want to hug their childhood toys as Jof laments “We don’t want to grow up” and “As sad as I am / I do understand” in “My Tiger My Heart” about a Calvin & Hobbes -esque imaginary friend.

The Best Party Ever more than lives up to its title. The Boy Least Likely To have delivered enough sun-blushed whimsy to keep listeners warm all year and wanting to stay young forever. This is music with a heart of gold rated “E” for “Everyone.” Whether the world takes notice now or later, this album will ceaselessly tug at the hearts of all who will play it.