Like on-the-comeup mixtape rappers brandishing improbable, aspirational boasts about their success, Toronto electro-poppers Dragonette have basically been fronting as world-beating superstars since their 2005 debut EP. Despite a string of surefire shoulda-been radio-killers, however, they’ve somehow managed to remain incongruously small-time, particularly here in these unexcited States. Bodyparts’ (Dragonette/Universal) sample lyric/hook/casually offhand assertion of all-around awesomeness “I only live in this city ’cause this city can’t live without me” could (but probably won’t) change all that. Nothing pops quite as hard as early singles like “Take It Like a Man,” and there’s no wrenching slow jam to match the still-devastating “Easy.” But Martina Sorbara still has the sass and style of a spikier, less-bananas Gwen Stefani, and — call it wishful mixing — the whole thing just sounds absolutely massive.
Thu., Sept. 13, 9 p.m., $15-$17, with The Knocks, Union Transfer, 1026 Spring Garden St., 215-232-2100, utphilly.com.
