Artist Woodhands

Like many acts reviving synth-pop this side of 2000, Toronto's Woodhands lay on the beats and retro analog tones rather thick, for the sake of both grooves and goofiness. Paul Banwatt's aggro-disco drum attack and Dan Werb's mechanically rippling synths (and sometimes his abrasive vocals) give Woodhands' best tracks an itchy, hyper finish. The band's most recent albums, 2008's Heart Attack and 2009's Remorsecapade, pull off a live-sounding snappiness that bodes well for Woodhands shows, which involve plenty of sweaty dancing, not to mention Werb wailing on his keytar. Sometimes it's hard to tell where the schtick ends and the band's own resourcefulness begins, but at least there's a good measure of both. 

Updated 03/16/2010