The Open Flames

Singer/guitarist Dave Eastman builds pop-smart lyrical narratives that he and co-vocalist/guitarist Paige Brubeck embody as characters — sometimes lonely, sometimes lush — which the band explodes into cinematic color via powerful drums (courtesy Harvey Danger’s Evan Sult), Len Bendel’s inventive basslines and a full spectrum of distorted guitar tones. Eastman’s ragged voice and novelist’s eye are filtered through REM’s arena-rock reverb, Neil Young’s gnarly feedback and X’s boisterous punk energy to impressive effect, but the album also makes room for moments of intimate longing and psychedelic soundshapes. For fans of REM, Lou Reed, The Pixies, David Bowie, The Lemon Twigs and Sonic Youth.