For a band that made its name by bucking kawaii conventions, Chai can be awfully cute. On its second album, misleadingly titled "Punk," the quartet takes the giddy sugar-rush of 2017's "Pink" and distills it into a mixture so potent, it should probably come with a health warning attached. They ought to have called it "Pinker."
Mana, Kana, Yuuki and Yuna have come a long way from shooting guerrilla pop videos in the toy department of Target. They wrapped up last year with a sold-out tour and a spot on Pitchfork's "The Best Rock Albums of 2018" list.
Fittingly, "Punk" marks a significant step up from its predecessor — an album so front-loaded that U.K. label Heavenly Recordings only licensed the A-side for the European release. It's a more cohesive and confident work, with heavier basslines, fatter synths and drums riding high in the mix.