Artist Meteorade

Madison power-pop band Meteorade has always had its friendly enthusiasm going for it, and the new album Shaking Strangers proves it has added staying and songwriting power these past couple of years. Picking up on Pavement's free-spirited guitar workouts but tidying up the lo-fi sloppiness—definitely for the better—these 13 tracks strike a strong balance of simple hooks and unpredictable fidgeting. Even though everything on Shaking Strangers sounds like the work of humble, slightly green Madison kids, the twitchy drive of opening track "Let It Stop" and surf-rock jams of "Supercharged" show the band's finally stocked up on confidence and bright ideas. 

Updated 02/22/2010