[5/5] While a glut of 20-something puntal bands (that's punk-metal for those of you keeping score at home) currently developing crushes on Iron Maiden and Guns N' Roses, it isn't surprising that a trio of NYU grads are mining the stuttering rumblings of the late-'80s/early-'90s art-rock scene, as exemplified by bands like R.E.M. and Superchunk. Brooklyn's Oxford Collapse have compiled 11 tracks of noisy, carefree happy rock on Remember the Night Parties that harken back to a time when Billy Corgan had long hair and Jeremy Enigk hadn't found God. Bombastic and messy, songs like "Please Visit Your National Parks" and "Return Of/Bruno" rattle with wiry guitar lines and warbly vocals that come off as part Shins, part Giant Drag-if that's possible. With the urgency of Sinkhole and the strident simplicity of Violent Femmes, OxCo have turned out one of the brightest and catchy offerings for Sub Pop all year. (SUB POP) Casey Lynch
 Official Website: http://www.subpop.com
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