Library Voices

Hot on the heels of last spring's Denim on Denim, Regina, SK's Library Voices drop Summer of Lust. With the help of producer and Besnard Lakes frontman Jace Lasek, the septet have streamlined the indie pop sound of their debut into a set of tightly focused tunes that leap out of your speakers. There are more synths and keys used this time out, but as always, the sugar-sweet melodies and whip-smart lyrics are the focus. "If Raymond Carver Was Born in the 90's" expresses frustration with the artist's life, as friends marry and procreate, while "The Prime Minister's Daughter" finds the band turning in a surprisingly political tune that manages to get its pro-arts funding cause across without seeming too on-the-nose. Lyricist Michael Dawson excels at creating brainy passages filled with literary references that never leave the listener feeling as if they're on the outside looking in. Library Voices' inclusive nature, coupled with their music's inherent catchiness, makes Summer of Lust impossible not to root for.