Peel

Peel's debut album bursts with the kind of loose energy only young bands exude, yet the songs belie a cerebral approach to lyrics and songwriting that usually takes years to mature. These songs are immediate and timeless, nostalgic yet hopeful, teeming with sunny regret.

Peel's youthful enthusiasm often handicaps their pursuit of the perfect three-minute pop song. Like a kid afflicted with ADD, the band can't write a beautiful song without resisting the temptation to destroy it with unhinged noise. This tension makes the album so compelling; it grabs you upon first listen and never lets go.