Albatross

Playing with unyielding passion and conviction, Seattle's the Classic Crime offer up a solid and vivacious dose of indie rock on their Tooth and Nail debut, Albatross. When the guys are playing at their best, it's hard not to move and sing along right there with them in your car, at the show, or wherever the music might be playing. And it's often pretty easy to imagine the bandmembers flailing around the stage live, hunched over their guitars and drumsticks before joining up together for each rousing and urgent chorus. The excellent opener, "The Fight," is perfect for this type of animated imagery, and tracks like the exuberant "Blisters and Coffee" and the driving bounce of "I Know the Feeling" and "The Coldest Heart" aptly carry on with the band's energetic enthusiasm. Singer Matt MacDonald has the vocal cords to get the crowd going, but he, along with the rest of the guys, can also bring things down a notch capably, as demonstrated in "Headlights" or the practically radio-ready (complete with strings) "Who Needs Air." It's in these moments that the Classic Crime really highlight the potential mainstream appeal of their sound, ready to compete alongside the quieter moments of bands like Switchfoot or 3 Doors Down, but without the stigma a comparison to either band might bring. For fans of earnest and passionately delivered rock, look no further than the Classic Crime, a band that will do the trick with satisfying ease and joy.