The Naked And Famous Bare It All

BARING IT ALL: In the music world, sometimes timing is everything. In less than a year, Kiwi synth poppers The Naked And Famous (TNAF) have gone from homegrown favorites to global stars, thanks to a buoyant and earwormy LP that sounds remarkably similar to those other skyrocketing sequencer lovers, Passion Pit. (In truth, the first time I heard TNAF’s “Young Blood,” I bet money it belonged to the N.Y.C.-based band. Ooops.) Considering the acts’ similar creative time lines — and similar fan appeal — it seems almost pointless to argue over who got there first, especially now that TNAF are touring stateside and playing SOhO Restaurant & Music Club on Friday, December 16.

Instead, I’m taking this week’s show as another (great) excuse to relive the silly and spring-loaded slam-dance fest that occurred around this time last year, when Passion Pit rocked a nearly sold-out Granada. Like that show, Friday’s affair threatens to be a raucous one, no doubt brimming with youngsters who’ll come prepared to scream-sing their way through the set list. But it’s also certain to be jam-packed with all the infectious cuts off of TNAF’s debut, Passive Me, Aggressive You.

As the title implies, the album is a potent mix of synthesizers, sequencers, bouncy samples, jarring industrial guitar lines, and electronic drums. Mid-album aggressor “Spank” even delves into the realm of Nine Inch Nails and Depeche Mode at points, thanks to heavy vocal effects and a pulsing back beat. At its most upbeat, Passive Me may be the epitome of electro-rock lite, but when these five delve a bit deeper, the result is slightly sinister dance pop that most music fans should be able to get behind. In other words, pack your dancing shoes and prepare for a crowd. The Naked And Famous play a sold-out all-ages show at SOhO on Friday, December 16, at 8 p.m. with openers White Arrows. For info, visit clubmercy.com.