When the quirky and criminally underrated Impossible Hair mentioned that they were writing a horse racing album, my initial thought was, “well, of course you are.” In addition to being a move that fits in perfectly with the persona of a band that wears wigs and designs hilarious videos, it also seems like a logical sonic progression. Standout track “X-Ray Man” on their debut What Is the Secret of Impossible Hair sounds a lot like the beginning to a spaghetti western with its galloping drumbeats and guitar riff that seems written for a showdown. True to form, Impossible Hair have created an album filled with short jangly gems that stand as great songwriting nuggets with or without the concept.

Toast a Dozen on the Outside starts off much where that last record left off. “You Can Own” is a bright uptempo tune with the same punchy drumbeats, Guided By Voices-worthy guitar riffs and tuneful vocals that won this reviewer over in the first place. The album is full of equally savory tunes like this, with “The High General” and “Girl and the Echo” standing out in particular. There are many song titles like “White Knuckle Flyer” that tie into the concept, but “Kissed By a Fish” follows the horse racing conceit the closest sonically, starting off with a neighing horse and more galloping drumbeats.