Bands break up for all sorts of reasons. But I'd never heard "The guitarist's wife got a job running a soccer team in Arizona" before. I suppose at one time the members of Full Speed Veronica (one of whom is my brother, who has also written a few reviews for A&A over the years) aspired to pull a full Albuquerque and attain just enough success to move to Portland (like the Shins and the baseball team and . . .). But with two members pushing 50 (or beyond), I'm thinking those dreams faded a while back. That's okay. There's always room for new dreams. Like playing really good music.

Full Speed Veronica The Final Round (self-released)

The sound is basic 80s indie rock, meandering between GBV, the 'Mats and Echo and the Bunnymen. I think the mix is a bit muddy (though it plays better on headphones than in my car), but the songs punch well. Is this all that different from a thousand other bands across the country? Probably not. But this particular incarnation of the band is its tightest and most cohesive, and more importantly, these songs cook.

If you're looking for something revolutionary, you'll need to go elsewhere. FSV plows in straight lines, with just enough maudlin sentiment (the "people ruin everything" refrain from "Left of You" is pretty awesome) to provide a little heft.

Yes, this is my brother's (now ex-)band. I was never going to trash this album. But this is the first FSV album I have reviewed, and I'm reviewing it with enthusiasm. The Final Round is easily the best FSV album (long EP? You decide), and I don't think it's close. It's a good portrait of a solid, mostly-anonymous band in Anytown, USA--which is a high compliment in my book. And I promise there are at least three songs that will worm their way into your brain. In the end, that's pretty much everything.

Jon Worley