Indie band sings about California

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Tweet Brandtson is, like, so California, but totally from Cleveland. Like, go figure?

The Ohio quartet is rumored to have a song on Fox's "The O.C." tonight and has a smooth, catchy sound.

It's indie-rock dance music with rough lyrical narratives about road trips in a black El Camino, women's clothing and the secrets of love. The upbeat tracks work for either background music at a barbecue or a late night, arm-shaking party at your friend's apartment.

The guy's latest album, "Hello, Control" hits stores May 2. The new songs border on being overproduced, but retain musical intrigue with raw lyrics and memorable electric guitar riffs.

"Earthquakes & Sharks" — track three — is the catchiest and most exciting tune on the album. It's all about the dangers of cruising around Mexico and California.

Some of the hazards of living out West, according to Brandtson, include "black widow spiders and killer bees. There ain't no shade, there ain't no trees. Got desert heat, polluted air and traffic jams beyond compare."

The song also works the best because it's the most logical. Some of the other songs work on abstract images of love.

There isn't anything blatantly brilliant going on musically, but the band provides enough interesting drum parts and catchy guitar ditties to keep things fresh and enthusiastic.

An interesting point is that the band credits a laptop as a musical instrument in the liner notes. Besides playing bass and synthesizer, Adam Boose plays laptop.

As much as technology has swallowed up and ruined some bands' sound, Brandtson is able to keep the computer noises in the background. The computer-generated sounds don't define Brandtson's sound; they just beef up the grooves.

Apparently technology is the wave of the future and it's nice to hear a band using programmed notes in positively progressive style.

Although, it would be nice to hear some of the songs with a more stripped-down aura. Tracks such as "Stop Machine," and "Friend or Faux?" have too much of a wall-of-sound quality. At the base of each song, there's a strong melody and Brandtson shouldn't be afraid to work on a toned-down level once in a while.

Brandtson isn't going to change the world or establish a new musical genre. What the band does is play quality uplifting tunes.

When there is an abundance of downer music hitting record store shelves and the Internet everyday, these Midwesterners with a California sound keep it optimistic.

And if you just can't wait until Tuesday to buy "Hello, Control," the group will perform in Grand Rapids at The Intersection, 133 Grandville Ave., Friday night.

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