With vocals from Jessica Louise Dye that rest somewhere between Debbie Harry and Hope Sandoval, and a band sound that encompasses the breadth of 90s alternapop (say, Mazzy Star to Fountains of Wayne), there is something of a "classic" feel to these songs. I guess a better way to say it is that these songs feel lived in.

High Waisted Sick of Saying Sorry (self-released)

Y'know, familiar. Like something you've heard a few times before but just can't place. Sometimes that can be annoying, especially when a band is ripping off chunks of a particular sound. But High Waisted assimilates instead, taking small pieces and weaving them into an entirely new piece of cloth.

Indeed, one of the sounds of the 90s that I didn't mention was the under-the-radar renaissance of horn-driven Bacharachian pop. There's a nice dose of that, too. This is the band's second set, and it already has the assurance of a veteran act.

Not many can put together so many ideas and make them work on one song, much less an entire album. Yes, this does transport me to a simpler time in my life, but it also propels me forward into the future. That "move on" sentiment seems to be a theme of the album, and I'm all for it. Just about perfect for the times.

Jon Worley