Arn-Identified Flying Objects and Alien Friends strike a sweetly ironic chord with “Sing-Along Songs”

“Sing-Along Songs” by Arn-Identified Flying Objects and Alien Friends is a clever layer of ironic reflection that makes it one of those rare songs that demands both a grin and a second listen. “Sing-Along Songs” is confident and open, and its pleasure principle pulled from the golden age of radio pop but dressed up with modern-day quirks. It’s the sort of song that has your toes tapping almost on their own, all underwritten by a slick production that uses just enough sugar and not a drop more.

Arn-Identified Flying Objects and Alien Friends pack their act enough full of story that it’s humorous and quietly heavy. There’s a kind of intimidating silliness at work here, an implied flash under the smile, as though the song itself were in on a joke that only those listening the most closely would get. The contrast between the lively music and the dark lyrics creates a delightful tension that sustains the interest well past the first chorus. The way “Sing-Along Songs” projects its emotional palette is unique. It dresses the roughness in musical joy and invites the listener to laugh and sigh at the same time.

It’s a song that comes in on a float of sunshine but then unloads a nuanced commentary on the bittersweetness of our brief time on this earth, about memories, or maybe the weird little ways we find to weather the storm. This song displays a lot of self-awareness here; contrast is used as an instrument and a tone. “Sing-Along Songs” is the kind of rare track that lets you bop your head while it quietly breaks your heart. “Sing-Along Songs” delivers on its name in the most unexpected of ways. A feel-good song with a sad smile, just the kind of contradiction it turned out we could use.