The Majestic Twelve- Schizophrenology

Hailing from North Carolina, The Majestic Twelve jumped into the music scene in 2002 and made a splash, selling 5,000 copies of their debut album. Available for purchase as well as free download from their website, the band's sophomore effort, Schizophrenology, blends quirky, experimental lo-fi rock with more straightforward, moodier offerings and the occasional political theme. Think a more upbeat Mask-era Bauhaus meets Devo meets The Violent Femmes meets James, albeit not all at the same time, and you might have a very vague inkling of what to expect. Kenyata Sullivan's vocals often fall somewhere between Peter Murphy's warble and Tim Booth's emotive swagger and falsetto, while the band's delivery varies from punchy to dynamic.

The bouncy new wave-infused, infectious, politically-charged "condoleezza, check my posse" proves to be a quirky standout here, as is the more musically straightforward, lovely, emotive "cry", its driving bass and echoing guitars recalling James. The tear-jerking piano ballad "grandfather (sweet baby jesus)" shows the band's versatility and emotional range, while the catchy rocker "break it and breathe" hides an unexpected powerpop underbelly. The energetic and powerful yet melancholy delivery of "american rage", lyrically centered around American workaholism, proves another high point, as does the beautiful cascading guitar and synth string wash of "whispering".

Despite, perhaps, sometimes sacrificing sonic consistency for stylistic diversity, The Majestic Twelve's Schizophrenology is a compelling ride full of twists and turns. Fun, quirky energy balancing moodier, more serious offerings, the band's sophomore album provides plenty of highs and lows but rarely falters. If you have a high-speed connection, I'd recommend you stop reading this and head over to the band's site to download it for yourself.