Melissa and Chris take a look at some new releases from established bands!

Peter Bjorn and John
“Living Thing”
3.5 out of 5 stars

Peter Bjorn and John (three guys who hate commas but make a great band) are back after their quasi-release of “Seaside Rock,” which was a largely instrumental album, with “Living Thing,” which really has a sound of its own when compared to their previous work.

PB&J, as they are affectionally referred to, are seriously in love with their synthesizers on this album, a seemingly strange follow-up to their big pop song “Young Folks” from their last real release of “Writer’s Block” in 2006. Simply put, a guitar solo is a rare occurrence.

Our favorite trio from Sweden are taking it easy and doing whatever they want – in this case using gloomy themes – while adding a lot more electronic sounds. It might come off as a little strange at first, but keep listening. It’ll be worth it.

Key Tracks: “Living Thing,” “It Don’t Move Me,” “Stay This Way”

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Yeah Yeah Yeahs
“It’s Blitz!”
3 out of 5 stars

The sound of Karen O and company on their third release is one of a band evolving, refusing to succumb to the inevitability of 2000′s garage rock. “Fever to Tell,” released in 2003, put them on the map in a big way.

Its follow-up, 2006′s “Show Your Bones,” was rather average and brought about a slight stagnation in the trio’s sound.

On Blitz, the YYYs deliver their most cohesive record to date, crafting songs that exist confidently in an electro-dance atmosphere. Where Karen O was more Joan Jett, she’s now evoking pop-era Blondie and doing a surprisingly good job at it.

Standouts like “Heads Will Roll” work as pulsating new wave romps, while some Hot Fuss-era Killers atmospherics are employed to make more contemplative tracks like “Hysteric” fit nicely into 2009′s indie rock climate.

While the slick, new wave sheen might bring a little too much sparkle to their old riot girl image, there’s little doubt this New York City trio have delivered their most satisfying album, one that brings some much-needed legitimacy to the early-2000′s garage scene. The likes of the Vines and the Von Bondies should be very, very jealous.

Key Tracks: “Zero,” “Heads Will Roll”

Your favorite music directors take a look at some new releases and let you know what’s up!

Bat For Lashes
“Two Suns”
3 out of 5 stars

Indie princess Natasha Khan returns with her second record as Bat For Lashes, apparently also gunning for 2009′s most awesome cover art in the process.

“Two Suns” succeeds in many of the same ways as its 2006 predecessor “Fur and Gold” did. Khan has confessed its status as a breakup album, though it effortlessly avoids many of the expected trappings of that moniker.

The vocals of the Pakistani-British songwriter are often compared to those of Bjork and Kate Bush, though she takes her music in a discernibly different direction. There’s a mystical, almost folkloric quality to her music, though she incorporates enough synthy atmospherics to create a sharp modern edge.

The record introduces the songwriter’s alter ego, a character named Pearl, who is the more thick-skinned foil to Khan’s bereaved persona.

Though not vital to one’s appreciation of the album, the concept adds to the depth of Khan’s storytelling.

This is a sophomore effort that is not necessarily better than its forerunner, but continues to develop its creator’s artistic endeavors.

Key Tracks: “Daniel,” “Sleep Alone”

Telekinesis
“Telekinesis!”
4 out of 5 stars

This album is the a great collection of short, sweet and very catchy tunes. Seriously, the longest song is three minutes and fourty-three seconds. There’s some excellent songwriting and nearly every track has a nice light, poppy feel to it.

Hailing from Seattle, Washington, Michael Benjamin Lerner is one of the only one-man bands I’ve ever heard that comes out with a decent end product.

Though that might be partially credited to his producer, Chris Walla, who seriously knows how to put together a good pop song after working with big indie industry names like Death Cab for Cutie, the Decemberists and Tegan and Sara.

Walla turns Lerner’s soft-spoken lyrics into catchy and upbeat pop songs that will get you humming along in no time.

With Lerner pretty much being the lone man behind the project, recording nearly all the vocal and instruments himself, the album’s got a very cohesive feel that really just puts a big smile on your face. On that note, “All of a Sudden” is an instant pick me up to any sad and rainy day.

Key Tracks: “Tokyo,” “All of a Sudden,” “Awkward Kisser”

WTSR would like to apologize for those who were tuning in to listen to Randy Now’s interview with Lilith’s Army earlier this evening. Unfortunately the show had to be canceled this week but we hope to see Lilith’s Army again sometime very soon in the WTSR studios.

Tune in to catch Lilith’s Army performing on Randy’s show, Wednesday night at 6. They’re here all the way from the UK, so listen in, either by web or on 91.3 FM!