About a year ago, the Internet collectively went gaga over Wizard of Ahhhs, a four-song EP Black Kids posted on their MySpace page. After starting a label bidding war and tapping former Suede guitarist Bernard Butler to produce their debut album, the band has re-emerged with Partie Traumatic, only now they’re being met with derision and indifference.

A largely harmless ’80s throwback, the CD suffers because the four songs from Wizard are far and away the best material on it. On these tracks, the band channels The Cure of an alternate universe where Robert Smith preferred puppies and cheerleaders to gargoyles and existential angst. It’s infectiously peppy, and vocalist Reggie Youngblood delivers some great one-liners. Sadly, the rest of the album urgently tries to mimic this casual spunk again and again without success.

Butler’s over-polished production is partially responsible for the downfall of Partie Traumatic, but not as much as Black Kids’ inability to write a fifth song. That said, the album doesn’t warrant the cold reception it’s received. It’s a mixed bag, but it would’ve made a kick-ass EP.

Oh, wait. Right.