Slay another with the backbeat

The Slats are a band out of Milwaukee who specialize in loud, catchy rock with more than a touch of Sonic Youth anarchy. Though their bio reads that their song Teena sounds like a "radio hit by the Cars", it's more like a love child of Ric Ocasek and Rick Springfield (and that's a compliment). Then, over at The War I Survived, pathos and melody collide for pure awesomeness. I couldn't get the refrain out of my head for days after hearing this, and I hope you don't either. The Slats are more than aware of bands that have come before them - does the monkey-wearing-headphones-over-the-Sun-Records-logo-cover give you enough of a tip? - and it shows. But rather than imitate the bands they like most, they add their own cleverness to the mix, and it usually works. These are my two favorite tracks from this album. My sense is that these guys are at their best live, and I hope I get to see them when they're playing in Minneapolis. You can pick up the record Pick It Up here.