Diamond Rings

Whether John O’Regan’s shamelessness is a cause for admiration or disgust depends on where the listener stands on irony-free modern synth-pop. As Diamond Rings, he reaches beyond camp and schtick towards a simplicity of intent that feels almost disingenuous, an aesthetic mash-up of Morrissey, Vanilla Ice, Andrew W.K., and Max Headroom. Free Dimensional is so bleeding-gums saccharine that debut Special Affections is Dylan-esque by comparison, but the embarrassment of YouTube videos where O’Regan dances onstage is tempered by the realization that somewhere, someone’s life is maybe being saved by this.

Tue., Dec. 4, 9 p.m., 2012