It's not often a band can start its own genre, but you heard it here first: Milton and the Devil's Party trade in jangle noir. OK, I know that sounds strange, if not ridiculous; but hear me out. The band's sonic template puts it squarely in the early- to mid-'80s Southern indie-rock tradition of bands like R.E.M. and the Windbreakers, all chiming guitars, loping tempos and bright, melodic vocals. Yet those vocals tell erudite tales of woe, or, as the one-sheet sent with the band's sophomore disc, How Wicked We've Become puts it: "The record began as a study in bad people -- or, more accurately, ordinary people doing bad things or finding themselves caught in patterns of behavior that define them as wicked, lost or merely failed." If there's a more succinct definition of noir, bring it on.

All of that would mean nothing if this wasn't undeniably catchy music. It would fit comfortably in the racks alongside the early work of the two aforementioned bands, as well as that of like-minded acts like Velvet Crush and even Paul Kelly, the Australian singer-songwriter who crafts similarly literate tunes.

Oh yes, about that: The band makes much about the fact that they've finally admitted that the two core members -- singer-bassist Daniel Robinson and guitarist Mark Graybill -- are English professors. Whatever. Again, literate lyrics are great, but if they're not wedded to excellent hooks, they don't count for much. How many hits does Leonard Cohen have? That said, Robinson's lyrics are deliciously intricate and smart. The taunt of "I've Had Your Wife" is elevated by clever lines like "We're relaxed as a beast with two backs, and you wonder why she's getting home so late," alluding to Shakespeare's metaphor for sexual congress. Elsewhere, Robinson sings on "Muse of Mundanity" of a guy who wishes his girlfriend were smarter because she doesn't offer suitable inspiration to spur him to creative heights.

Robinson must have a brainy significant other, because with How Wicked We've Become is a tight burst of jangling pop music that actually makes you feel smarter by the time the final track spins. At it's core, it's a disc of songs for and by adults. So much of power pop is about teenage boys who are frightened of the opposite sex. Here, Robinson offers pointed thoughts about what it means to be grown up. On "Too Old to Die," he leavens such heavy thoughts with a few turns of phrase, including this verse: "Well, I thought there's be time for me to have more fun/ I thought there'd be time to be number one/ But misery is a luxury when you're seventeen (or you're Morrissey)/ But now I've got people depending on me/ I've got to be and not not to be."

All of that might add up to something to precious for some, and I'll admit reading the above might turn me off if I hadn't had the chance to hear the songs first. But if this sounds at all intriguing, go check out the band's MySpace page to hear a few tracks. You'll be happy you did.

Labels: music, TuesdayTuneup