Arietta

For some reason, attaching a "post" prefix to any musical genre is the way music geeks describe records that are challenging and downright glum. So it's nice to find a band willing and able to inject a little fun into their music while still keeping things interesting and a bit unpredictable. In this case, post-rock is probably the best way to describe Toronto, ON's Arietta, who lean heavily on elements of math rock and '90s emo bands like Slint and Sunny Day Real Estate. Coupled with their penchant for hooks and actual enthusiasm, Migration is a great, if not wholly original, record. This sextet's strength is songwriting, not sonic experimentation. If rock radio gave bands like this any more than a passing glance maybe "mainstream" wouldn't be such a dirty word.