Deserving of the label ‘fun pop’

It’s OK for some music to be labeled “fun pop,” but too often we pass that title onto terrible, overproduced top 40 singles because they’re always played at Sports.

Bryce Avary’s Rocket Summer is “fun pop” in the best way possible. His newest, “Of Men & Angels,” is 15 tracks of controlled exuberance that seeps with positive vibes and uplifting charm.

When Avary wants to craft a piano-powered hookfest, he does it. A lot. “Of Men & Angels,” “You Gotta Believe,” “Light” and “Hills and Valleys” are triumphant jams that somehow make otherwise cheeseball lyrics motivational.

And when he wants to craft a stripped-down mid-tempo effort perfect for CW show climaxes, he does it. A lot. “Walls,” “Tara, I’m Terrible” and “Nothing Matters” all start low-key and then explode, as if Avary just cannot resist making the listener grin every second of the album’s runtime.

“Fun pop” is one way to describe “Of Men & Angels.” A few other ways? “Fantastic,” “must-listen” and “better than that pretentious, heartless crap you listen to because Pitchfork gave it a high score.”