Artist Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band

Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band is a Seattle quartet that garnered some major buzz before anyone had heard a note by releasing a series of more-weird-than-funny fake PSAs, then signing with Dead Oceans. The quirky outfit—featuring a 15-year-old drummer, Marshall Verdoes, adopted by the band’s frontman and his wife, who’s also in the group—followed the hype with a angular self-titled indie-pop debut. Their latest, Where The Messengers Meet, is a decidedly more subdued affair, ploddingly rhythmic and overwrought where previous work was exuberant. Songs like “Hurrah” read more jaded than honestly enthusiastic, which is a shame for that teen drummer—he’s got far too much life to live before he gives in to sadness.

Updated 09/08/2010