PEELANDER-Z

No band relishes outsider status quite like Peelander-Z, sci-fi-loving Japanese musicians who came together in New York City but claim to hail from outer space. The group makes vibrant B-movie rock in the spirit of Devo and the Ramones—wearing costumes like the former, using pseudonyms like the latter and absorbing musical ideas from both. Here it adds up to a synth-punk concept record about surfing the cosmos on waves of charm and curiosity. Along the way our heroes discover rockabilly, garage, punk and even “Girls Just Want to Have Fun,” which gets a chipmunk-disco makeover. The only down moment: “Outro,” when the gang boards its rocketship and heads home.