Habitually dressed in black and charcoal work attire, you could assume that that Chicago band Office were born out of a 9 to 5 copy and scanner musical. But their debut release A Night at the Ritz dismisses any on top desktop numbers and asserts that the white collar working world could never hold their infectious rock riffs,delivered in pop-glazed harmonies and inescapable head bobbing beats.

A Night at the Ritz takes advantage of five-some's three females (and perhaps two effeminate-pitched males) in soft toned harmonies that act as dead-catchy chorus backdrops in songs such as “The Ritz” , “Company Calls”, “Paralyzed Prince”, and “The Big Bang Jump!”. The feel is slightly 50s pop every time the makeshift back up girls pop up, though always smartly contrasted with everything from thick bass and beats to hypnotic riffs and melody.

Singer Scott Masson and Co. continue to woo us with songs like “If You Don”t Know by Now”, masterfully reflecting the song lyrics in melody, throwing lines like 'go ask somebody else' in an annoyed nonchalance. Meanwhile, “Had a Visit” confuses, seemingly exchanging their pop riffs for rougher chords only to bounce back in another addicting chorus and stomping beat. “Plus Minus Fairytale” follows suit with cool choppy riffs, more harmonies, and an unexpected break in melody that sounds something like someone “aahh”-ing heavily, and loud, against random synthesizer beats in the last half.

“Possibilities" and “Dominoes” are softer in contrast to the album's fast-dealt pop, with less urgency and focus on the lyrics, while “Q&A “ enamors with lines like 'my heart skips a beat when I feel your love on vibrate', destined to become the MySpace headline of choice for the puppy-loved and mildly dirty minded adolescent. Stand out single “Wound Up” continues the romance in a summery plea to a lover to chill out with a bottle of wine on the beach, leaving you craving a sea side day as much as he does.

Closing track acoustic “Suburban Perfume” not only impresses with some of the band's most nostalgic and  entertaining lyrics (I can”t remember anything/ but I remember the flannel well), but also embodies the band's stylings in its title—an intoxicating, playful air against the every day going-ons of life.

Addicting in its relatable pop melodrama, A Night at the Ritz will never be an office musical. Though, you may find it to be the soundtrack to your day all the same, from nine to whatever time.

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