Quick Hits
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Yayyy! Quick Hits is back and again spreading the love to all our inked-up, hair-mussed, indie rocker friends.

Each month, Quick Hits writer Darby Dixon will give you several bits of data to help your all-important indie rock purchase decision: a photo of the band or album cover to stoke your fantasies; a spot review -- so we feel like we actually did something; a thumbs up or thumbs down buying guide, so we can exert our mighty market power, and an MP3 or WMA sample, so you can tell us to go screw and decide if you like the bands yourself.

Send all feedback, review/interview requests, and free CDs & ticket hook-ups to Darby at darby@arrivistepress.com.

Polly Panic	Painkiller			Greyday Productions
	Speaking of expectations, when this disc reached the Arriviste offices, we started sharpening our axes because we thought for sure we had a hatchet job on our hands: Polly Panic? Painkiller? Sound like names someone's angsty kid sister came up with. Turns out, the music is great. Jenette Mackie's vocals are vital and urgent, and she works a cello like it was originally designed to be a rock instrument, while Jesse Sprinkle matches Mackie's energy with equally expressive drums. They're not the second coming of PJ Harvey, but they should still attract fans of the great Polly Jean.		Pretty Pissing	Pick this up!
The PoPo	The PoPo			Buddyhead
	Expectations are a bitch. On their debut EP, The PoPo promise us something called "post-hip hop." So far so good, right? We're post-modern kids here, after all. Too bad what they deliver sounds more like a rough trip through terrible late-night college radio. Sure, there's some good moments, like the build-up in the last half of "Funtimes on the Frontline," and some of "London Falling" (available to the right) isn't awful. But then there's a sludge-fest like "Dirty Sanchez," which is, yes, pretty gross. And far more typical of this directionless mess of a disc.		London Falling	Pick this up!
The Silent Years	The Silent Years			No Alternative Records
	Know why indie rock is awesome? It doesn't care a fig for the laws of physics. As soon as you think you've got no room in your life for more ultra-melodic power-pop, your CDs start rolling up hill without cause, and bands like The Silent Years glide in to fill the gaps. Under their polished exterior, there's something's oddly intriguing about these guys, though. The sounds on their debut album zig enough to add some surprising bursts of complexity. (Check out their instrumentation list: it includes circuit-bent toys, a dobro, and a shruti box.) We're looking forward to seeing where they go next.		Someone To Keep Us Warm	Pick this up!
The Memory Band	Apron Strings			Dicristina Stair
	So here it is, some weeks into the new year, and already, you're behind on your resolutions. We've checked your list, and while you're on your own when it comes to "Lose weight" and "Quit smoking," we can help you with "Listen to more kick-ass violin solos." Get yourself to Apron Strings by The Memory Band. It's way cooler than traditional folksy music should be. We'll tease you with a download of "The Light," and suggest you grab the entire album for our personal favorite track, the epic centerpiece "I Wish I Wish."		The Light	Pick this up!

For last month's Quick Hits, click here...