Cults hit at least two pure pop pleasure centres for me, and they hit 'em hard - girl group vocals and melodies (along with the associated 'minor symphonic' feel) wrapped up in 21st C bedsit indie-pop stylings, xylophones and all. And more than that, their songs are filled with little flourishes and surprise right turns that actually make me smile - the bit when the drums first kick in on album opener "Abducted" and then the unexpected mini guitar solo near the end of the same song, the loopy bridge/chorusey vocal uptick on "Walk At Night", the way "Oh My God" leads off lyrically and then just keeps on going, and so many more. An inventive, often surprising, and very pleasing record.
