The band Fourth of July has a sound that I didn't realize until hearing it that I've missed. At one time, it seemed as if there were dozens of bands recording and releasing albums like On the Plain -- cheap-sounding, catchy, clever and palatably earnest discs that don't bowl you over but instead simply entertain you consistently.

But those days, sadly, are gone, and it's the rare treat like On the Plain that reminds you of what you once took for granted. All of that seems like a lot of hype, so let me be clear: This is not a great album. It won't make many "best CDs of the year" lists, nor will it engender slavish devotion on the part of listeners. But I don't imagine that was the goal of the Hangauer brothers at the core of the group.

Instead, I would imagine, they simply wanted to make the kind of music they like to hear. If that is the case, I'm with them. Brendan Hangauer has a knack with simple tunes -- I'm no virtuoso, but I'm confident I could figure out how to play this entire album on guitar in an afternoon. These stick with you, and, big compliment coming, they make you want to hear them again. The best reference I have (and I mean it as no slight) is if Conor Oberst had a sense of humor. What I always assumed was simply a dislike of Oberst's voice is now revealed, thanks to Hangauer's similar pipes, to be a dislike of Oberst himself. Go figure.

Songs like "Why Did I Drink So Much Last Night?" and "The Faint" (which, yes, deals with a girl who listens to the Faint) are so quirky and quaint that you're initially sure they were made up on the spot. Subtle touches like backing harmonies, horns and other elements convince you over time that this is a studied simplicity, and that somehow makes this all the more charming.

I never know what to expect when I open the mail and find a CD by a band I've never heard of, but the next time I find one like On the Plains, I'll wonder if it isn't my birthday. Go to Range Life Records to hear for yourself.

Labels: music, TuesdayTuneup