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It may be fair to suggest that growing up in New York City breeds a certain need for ultra stimulation in a person. When Robot Princess’s Beau Alessi relocated to Maine after college, the singer/guitarist found himself stranded from any such vitality – let alone a relatable music community – and it was here that he began to use songwriting as a tool for serious expression, his past projects taking a more carefree tone.

The band’s second full-length, Tentacles, appropriately features eight songs that can be loosely defined as pop punk and, given its frequent aquatic references, can almost be considered conceptual.

While its intentions are somewhat more serious than Alessi’s previous endeavors, this record is by no means devoid of playfulness. The band name alone speaks to that, and the general upbeat tone of the record is often in contradiction to heavier lyrical issues, creating something of a musical dark comedy. Throw into the mix a rainbow colored keytar and a lead single inspired by The Baby-Sitters Club and you have a compelling and fresh approach to an often-repetitive genre.