In the jaded and cynical world in which you've wrapped yourself, The Ditty Bops want to be your ray of hope.
The Ditty Bops' saccharine-sweet self-titled debut album isn't for those who like their music without some sugar. Those people will die from an overdose, because the band's music is the equivalent of a syrupy syringe to the heart.
But for those of you willing to open up and let a little sunshine in, you could find yourself warming up quickly to the upbeat female duo.
Like overgrown children, Abby Dewald and Amanda Barrett trot through their twee pop album with nary a care.
The opening "Walk or Ride" is a toe-tapping tune that tells of the good, simple things in life: "With just one kiss you could change the world/It might not be much better but it certainly couldn't hurt."
The surprising degree of innocence portrayed by both the band's lyrics and sonic qualities makes one wonder how the group could avoid being discarded as an irrelevant novelty act, a duo best suited to create children's albums.
The music itself is a fairly bubbly collection of songs featuring an eclectic yet complementary mix of jazz, pop and country.
If you were simply listening to the album's harmless melodies, you'd have a hard time deciding what exactly The Ditty Bops wanted to be.
But it's the strength of their vocals that defines who The Ditty Bops are and why a major label such as Warner Brothers would want to sign them. This duo is one in a million.
The pair harmonizes beautifully, drawing from a Simon and Garfunkel-like musical instinct. Their voices weave together with grace, creating an intoxicating, enticing aural effect that's hard to resist.
This harmonic pattern continues throughout the album, setting its pace and dominating the mood.
Granted, the overly cheerful theme of The Ditty Bops will likely hide the group from a mainstream market saturated with nu-punk, pop-rock and rap.
A group with this obvious degree of high-caliber vocal talent begs for a second album, something with a greater sense of maturity that can draw a larger audience.
Judging from the album cover's childish art, though, that might be a stretch.
For now, The Ditty Bops are happy to be the spokeswomen for the creation of a new genre: children's albums for adults.
Contact the A&E Editor at artsdesk@unc.edu.
