Pop music has a bad name right now. Admitting you like pop music is almost like saying “On the weekends I chase squirrels around my yard with a large hammer.” People will look at you oddly and quickly excuse themselves from your presence. To be fair, when the current pop scene features the likes of Backstreet Boys, N’Sync, 98 Degrees and LFO, which stands for “Lyte Funky Ones” (shudder), it’s understandable that allegiance to pop can be seen as a declaration of madness.But what are you gonna do if you really like frothy songs that you can sing along to, but you need to keep your cool cred? Sure you can sing-a-long to Limp Bizkit but wouldn’t it be nice to have a song you can sing in front of your mom? May I humbly suggest, Bis and its new album, “Social Dancing.”Bis, which formed in 1994, is a coed, Scottish trio composed of brothers Sci-Fi Steven(vocals/guitars) and John Disco (guitar/vocals) and Manda Rin (vocal/keyboards). Over the course of numerous 7-inch single releases, two EPs “This Is Teen-C Power!” and last year’s “Intendo”and a full length album “The New Transistor Heroes,” Bis has perfected their brand of self-described “punk disco.”What is “punk disco?” Take the energy and do-it-yourself ethic of punk rock, add a healthy dose of ’80s new wave flavor, a splash of pop stylings and a couple of tablespoons of dance beats and volia! The result is insanely catchy songs with so much energy it may replace Prozac. For the majority of Bis’ career the sounds of “punk disco” were made with guitars, keyboards, an army of drum machines and a sampler. The results were purposely lo-fi recordings which sounded like they were recorded in a bedroom. Which was part of the charm.On “Social Dancing,” Bis kept the same sonic philosophy of its earlier records but stepped up the game with better production value, better equipment, stronger songwriting and the use of an outside producer, Andy Gill. “Social Dancing” mixes trip-hop and other elements of dance music confidently into the “punk disco” mix. On “Eurodisco” Bis lay down a groove that wouldn’t sound out of place at, well, an Eurodisco. Bleeps, blurps and a touch of shimmering guitar riffs. The band sings about losing themselves in the music, despite the fact that it doesn’t subscribe to the latest trend. And while “Theme From Tokyo” features a string section, usually the earmark of “maturity,” the groove is funky enough to, in the words of Wreckks-N-Effects, get “bootys a shaking and moving all around.”One thing that hasn’t changed is how the lyrics have a more involved meaning than the shouty choruses and poptastic music would suggest. For example, “I’m A Slut” can read as literal but on closer examination it’s a study of a controlling relationship (“Have I done something to upset you?/Was my shirt a bit too see-through?….You tell me I deserve this/’Cos I’m a slut/And I provoke you.”).And if you’re a fan of the ’80s, Bis is custom made for you. Squealing angular guitar work and bubbling keyboard sounds. Also, Manda Rin can conjure memories of the Go-Gos and Kim Wilde (see “The Hit Girl”) or switch into a smoky croon as she does on “Detour” with guest vocalist, K Records indie queen, Lois. The highlights are the whole dang record. A little something for almost everyone without sounding contrived. So, if you want pop music with a kick, please pick up Bis’ “Social Dancing.” You won’t be disappointed.