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Cheap Girls "Famous Graves" (Xtra Mile Recordings)

Power-pop band Cheap Girls appeared on the cover of City Pulse in July, but the group is no stranger to press. Since forming in 2007, the band has been championed by SPIN and Rolling Stone magazines — not bad for some eastside Lansing residents. “Famous Graves,” the trio’s fourth LP, was labored over for three months, and it shows on this batch of polished and gigantic hooks (i.e.,“Slow Nod”). Sure, Cheap Girls didn’t stray far from its signature blasé rock ‘n’ roll formula, but even though Cheap Girls makes making music look simple … it’s not. The ability to turn three chords into a fistpumping anthem is something best left to the naturals. And that’s Cheap Girls in a nutshell.

Peoples Temple "Musical Garden" (Hozac Records)

On its third full-length album, Peoples Temple venture further from its psych-rock roots and delve into pop majesty. “I Heard You Singing” and “I Don’t Mind” are layered with warm, euphoric atmospheres. While previous records echoed the grittiness of the Rolling Stones and 13th Floor Elevators, this LP leans closer to a refined ‘70s rock aesthetic paired with astute, whimsical lyrics. “Handsome Nick” sounds mean as hell without an ounce of faux-macho aggression, a feat many bands can’t handle. Also, “Dreamer” may start with a bright, jangly guitar, but quickly spirals into a shadowy ominous dirge — a shining model of the band’s dynamic songwriting and sonic capacities.

Hunky Newcomers "The Secret of the Booze" (GTG Records)

Pressed on a limited edition of 500 copies on 12-inch slabs of wax, the Hunky Newcomers’ third record on the GTG label offers up 14 low-life punk rock tunes at a brisk 45 RPM. The Lansing four-piece’s tongue-in-cheek songbook includes meathead anthems (“I’ll Fucking Fight You”) alongside tasteless ditties like “Baby Gave Me the Clap” (niftily accented by handclaps). It’s revitalizing when a band can have fun, deliver solid riffs and not take itself seriously. And, yes, the album title appears to be a nod to the 1991 film “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze” — because referencing a Jean-Luc Godard film would be flat-out pretentious.