Only a Lad

This feels like the soundtrack to a nervous breakdown at an art school and I mean that as a compliment. Oingo Boingo mixed punk, ska, new wave, and total weirdo theater-kid energy into something that still sounds unique today. Danny Elfman sounds completely unhinged in the best way possible throughout the whole album. “Only a Lad,” “Nasty Habits,” and “Little Girls” were the standouts for me, even if “Little Girls” still feels like you should probably end up on a watchlist for singing along too loudly. The whole thing has this sarcastic, twitchy energy that makes it more fun the more you sit with it. Weird album. Smart album. Surprisingly catchy album.