Fannypack - So Stylistic

Aaah, the novelty dance hit. From "Macarena" to "Whoot! There It Is!" to "Mambo Number 5," these inescapable little ditties burrow into our collective unconsciousness one summer at a time, burning up the flame with a white-hot incandescence that is as short-lived as it is powerful, never to be heard from again until a "Where Are They Now?" special, or the wedding reception of some random uncle. For the most part, however, such ignominous fates are well deserved; despite any personal affinity for Lou Bega (of which there is much), I'm forced to admit that his brief fling at the top of the pop charts was all due to a terrible, terrible song. One can only hope that Fannypack proves an exeption to this career trajectory. Their unspeakably bad "Cameltoe" single is currently rotating on a Top-40 station near you, and will continue to do so - over and over and OVER again - until the warm months come to a close. Yet if the remaining tracks on So Stylistic are any indication, these three barely post-pubescent Brooklyn girls (and their pair of Lower East Side hipster svengalis) have a lot more to offer the world than an annoying one hit wonder. By taking cues from the Miami booty bass of 2 Live Crew (now dubbed "ghetto tech" in many pseudo-intellectual electronic music circles) and the chilly electro of Kraftwerk, mixing it with melodic (and fashion) sensibilities from early 80s pop and new-wave groups, and adding a dollop of hip hop girl-power sass (Salt-N-Peppa, what!), Fannypack have crafted an irresistable debut record. Made solely for vibrating automobile subwoofers and putting a smile on your face, "Hey Mami," "Sugar Daddy," and "Smack It Up" have an old-school charm that is absolutely infectious. Adding to the feel-good vibe are the snippets of conversation interspersed between tracks; from arguments and flubbed vocal takes, to phonecalls from the members' mothers, these few seconds offer glimpses into a group of real kids, a refreshing change from other manufactured pop groups made up of too-professional-for-their-own-good American Idol wannabees. Fannypack keep it light, keep it real, and keep cranking out fun little songs; it will be a true shame if their carreer remains overshadowed by their one lame hit single. So Stylistic isn't for everybody, but if you relent and let their sunshine funk into your summer, your ass will certainly thank you. [www.fannypack.net]