Operation Makeout is pop-punk done right: no frills, indie production values, and a whole lot of fun and energy. The Vancouver threesome’s big claim to fame, such as it is: the cover of their 2001 EP, First Base, features an extreme closeup of two people making out, tongue and all. In the liner notes, they send out special thank-yous to their “kissy-faced models”—all 22 of them, if the count is right. You might’ve also seen the band featured on a segment of The New Music about finding a place to crash after a gig. 

For a punk band, Operation Makeout are almost too cute for their own good. Their sound has been compared to Sleater-Kinney, but they play looser and faster than their Olympia counterparts, and are prone to an interesting sort of wanderlust when it comes to melodies—no simple sugar-coated hooks here. Plus there’s Jesse Gander adding male vocals to the mix on a bunch of tracks. But most of all, Operation Makeout just seem to have more fun on record. I would too if I got to belt out songs like this all the time.