Pitchfork

Will Schwartz's day job as frontman for Imperial Teen has always provided ample opportunity to show off his pop chops-- albeit in a messy, sort of subversive way. But now that he has teamed up with fellow San Franciscan Tomo Yasuda, keyboardist for electro nerds Tussle, he can really explore the computerized textures, sugary choruses, and cleanly produced, danceable beats that make up today's true pop songs-- the sort that are found on commercial radio. In fact, many of the songs on the duo's debut (which, though available in Europe since 2006, is just now getting its Stateside release) pulse with envy of Off the Wall-era Michael Jackson or Rihanna's "Umbrella."

In lesser hands this would come off as ironic, a winking nod to the prevailing pop culture in the guise of criticism. But Schwartz and Yasuda clearly have an earnest love for this stuff. So instead of tarting up "In The Basement" in neon or giving it an acid wash, Hey Willpower play it straight, right down to the panting orgasm of its extended outro. With the buzzing, glossy synths and itchy, thick beats of Britney Spears' "Toxic," the track feels similarly dirty and forbidden-- it is after all about sneaking away for illicit nookie-- and yet strangely scrubbed clean for maximum consumption. Few could get away with such silly syllables as "We could do it like Mr. Clean and you could wink at me" or "We'll shake and bake it," but Schwartz's delivery-- which at once deadpan and in heat-- makes them totally believable.

MP3:> Hey Willpower: In the Basement"
[from P.D.A., due 01/22/08 on Tomlab]