Record Rack

* 1/2 Gay Dad, “Leisure Noise,” London. The attention-getting moniker is wasted on this British group, which is a hot item back home, and which plays the Troubadour on Wednesday. Occasional signs of life (“Joy!”) aren’t enough to yank its rambling debut collection out of pop tedium. Notwithstanding a patina of ‘90s techno swoop ‘n’ soar, there’s a dated, ‘80s sensibility behind the noodling keyboards, chiming guitars and Cheap Trick-style bubble-gum. Leader Cliff Jones’ disaffected singing only underscores the dullness.

*

Albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor), two stars (fair), three stars (good) and four stars (excellent). The albums are already released unless otherwise noted.