Via is an anomaly in the Seattle music scene. Managing to not quite fit into any specific genre, Via draw on such disparate flavors of rock and indie music that they would fit on almost any bill. Not that their influences are that obscure, it's just that they blend elements that others rarely do, taking the leads of the early Manchester scene (Joy Division et al) and Brit pop and fusing them with the heavy and harmonic elements of bands like Drive Like Jehu and Slint. Singer Jeremy Read's delicate and personal voice adds a tenderness to the songs, offering glimpses into lost moments, fragmented memories, flawed characters, personal disgust, and even a tale of raccoons on the prowl. Recommended.