Local spins

Jimmy Eat World
‘Futures’

Those hoping for a carbon copy of JEW’s 2001 self-titled release will be sorely disappointed when they pop in “Futures,” the group’s fourth CD. But this isn’t a bad thing. While their last disc was filled with melodic pop-rock ear candy, the new album takes a harder approach — in other words, less pop and more rock. And it’s a lot darker lyrically with song titles such as “Pain” (the album’s first single) and “Drugs or Me.” “Futures” is the middle ground between JEW's 1998 album “Clarity” and their 2001 release, and features a combination of lush, harmony-filled slower tracks and their usual, edgy three-minute radio singles. Highlights include the beautifully crafted “Work,” which features guest vocals by Liz Phair; “The World You Love,” an anthematic singalong; and the title track, which opens the album on a rockin’ note. It took three years for the band to release it, but “Futures” is worth the wait. A

— by Kelly Wilson

Picture Show
‘Another Bright Idea’

Reminiscent of The Cure’s “Boys Don’t Cry” era and Aussie pop heroes The Church, Picture Show’s six-song EP features plenty of chiming chorus/
delay guitar effects, strong vocals, evocative lyrics and ’80s pop-structured songcraft. Dubbed by Chad Burggraf and Laura Green “in Chad’s bedroom,” the production is surprisingly crisp for a home recording, bringing out the clarity of Burggraf’s vocals and guitar work. The crunchy, minor key “Lost Boy” gets things started with fine vocal harmonies and a catchy power chord chorus and the disc hits its stride with “Out of My Reach” and the terrific “I Took The Money,” a radio-friendly pop tune with clever chord changes and an instantly hummable melody. The sound-alike tunes have a tendency to run together, but a clear direction emerges and makes this a moody, cohesive effort. B

Next show: 8 p.m. Monday at Sugar Daddy’s, 3102 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, . $2.
Web site: www.pictureshowmusic.com

— by Chris Holly, Get Out

Until August
‘Past The Sun’

Until August must realize they’re far from the only Weezer-influenced, Jimmy Eat World-inspired emo band in the East Valley, so they‘ll have to settle on being one of the best. Their full- length debut, “Past The Sun,” is a high-spirited affair that retains the playful energy of the genre. Recorded with local production guru Bob Hoag, the band shows similar signs of poppy promise as Flying Blanket studio vets The Format, especially in standout tracks such as opener “That Song” and the refreshingly punky “Nik Nak.” Lead singer and guitarist Adam Trombley, backed by a solid group of musicians, sticks to familiar themes: lost love, unrequited love and — in a twist — love gone wrong. Occasionally the listener’s patience is tested with callow lyrics such as “Don’t you let go, and say no, I feel so lonely” in “Be There,” but it’s all wrapped up in a product catchy enough to be pardonable. B+

Next show: CD release party Saturday 8 p.m. at The Old Brickhouse, 1 E. Jackson St., Phoenix, . $7, all ages.
Web site: www.untilaugust.com

— by Albert Ching, Get Out