With all the retrograde new wave punkers splashing around these days, it's about time someone with real cred cannonballed into the pool.

Lenny Zenith What If the Sun (XYYX Records)

Lenny Zenith has been plying his trade for decades in bands like Jenifer Convertible and Tenterhooks. This album sounds like a classic 80s indie rock set, complete with the lovely imperfections of that rather expansive genre.

Zenith has garnered some attention for having transitioned while in junior high in the 70s--he even wrote a soon-to-be-released memoir. But I think he prefers the attention to be on his music, and his kitchen-sink approach to songwriting and off-handed performing style are immediately endearing.

Kids, if you want to emulate the great indie bands of the 80s and early 90s, pay close attention to the details on this set. Keep your songs short. Don't pile on hook after hook, but stick to the good one. Most of all, don't take yourself too seriously. Many bands today do well with the music, but they're simply too crafted to pull off the sound. Zenith is a stellar musician, but he doesn't try too hard. He gets it just right.

As he should. After all, he was present at the birth. And now that he's stepping out under his own name, he's showing everyone how things are done. Big fun.

Jon Worley