The Weather Machines - "The Sound Of Pseudoscience" cd (Tigers Against Crime!!!)
This is the debut release from this new band from South Dakota, and it's right up my alley! The band sounds quite a bit like Chisel (with hints of Ted Leo's solo stuff as well), but not in a derivative way - more that they share the same influences, and take the mod/punk-flavored sound of the Undertones, the Jam and Elvis Costello, and mix it with a more modern indie rock style (besides ol' Teddy, I can also hear a slight similarity to Volcano, I'm Still Excited!! or Spoon at times). Along with their impeccable influences, the band also writes some damn terrific songs - some of my faves include "Northern Lights", "Old School Vs. Liberty Girls", "Last Stop" and "32,000' Above Suck City", although I could've picked plenty of other examples! Almost all of the songs are in the two-three minute range, although a couple run a bit longer (like "Stains Of Saints", the album's only low point, although that's only in comparison with the rest of the record). If I hadn't been so backed up in the reviews department, this definitely would've made my top 20 of 2005 list!   MTQ=11/12

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