Transmatic

These four musicians possess powerful lyrical insight and sharpened musical chops, but most importantly, once they have their hooks in, they refuse to let go. First and foremost, Transmatic showcases frontman Joey Fingers perceptive take on the fragility of human relationships. He loads his songs with multiple meanings, keeping the personal details veiled under layers of sharp metaphors. Although the Indianapolis foursome prefers to let listeners take their own meanings from these songs. Even as the lyrics take on the world with a healthy grain of salt, Baldauf, bassist Andy Carrell and drummer Kirk Fredrickson never allow the music to get dragged down by the darker side of cynicism. They compliment Fingers acute storytelling with soaring songs that build on one catchy riff after another. Transmatic was produced by Neal Avron (Fall Out Boy, Yellowcard, Everclear), in a process that deeply affected the band members.