Soundbites

»Kula Shaker, "Strange Folk"

Kula Shaker's reunion ("reincarnation" says the press release) is just as puzzling as their disbandment. In the late 1990s, the band seemed like it was on the verge of something -- its debut, 1996's "K" captured the psychedelic intensity that many of its Britpop peers lacked.

To put it bluntly, "Hey Dude" could run circles around "Don't Look Back in Anger." "Strange Folk," Kula Shaker's third album, picks up pretty much where the band left off after abruptly disbanding in 1999 -- furthering that delicate blend of Indian folk music and '60s psychedelica.

"Strange Folk" lacks the intensity of Kula Shaker's best songs, but if you're already a fan, you won't care. There's only one

misstep, the politically charged "Great Dictator (Of the Free World)." "Strange Folk" has plenty of what makes Kula Shaker great: swaggering guitar numbers, faux Indian spiritualism and catchy melodies.

»We Are Scientists, "Brain Thrust Mastery"

It's too bad "Brain Thurst Mastery" doesn't have a U.S. release date yet (out mid-March across the pond), because it's going to be hard to wait. Don't believe me? Hop over to myspace.com/wearescientists and check out the fantastic first single "After Hours," which pays homage to Springsteen and U2 while staying true to the band's post-punk roots.

If you liked last year's Arcade Fire track, "(Antichrist Television Blues)," you'll love this. On the album proper, "Lethal Enforcer" follows, which couldn't sound any more different, evoking bands like Joy Division and The Smiths. But it's not just the Greatest Hits of the 1980s filtered through contemporary sensibilities of distortion and layered guitars. Songs like "Impatience" and "Chick Lit" pop and fuzz in all the right places. For those of you who need full albums, be warned -- there's a couple throwaway numbers. But, for the rest of us, for the great songs like "After Hours," that's why iTunes was invented.

» The Mountain Goats, "Heretic Pride"

If it wasn't for the fact that The Mountain Goats (really John Darnielle) was singing about slasher movies, sex and a lake monster, his latest, "Heretic Pride," could be substituted for any late night Irish pub singer.

That's not a dig -- Darnielle (minus the clothespin-on-the-nose

vocals) sounds intimate and epic at once, enjoyable on multiple levels. Take opening track "Sax Rohmer #1" (about the pulp novelist and Fu Manchu creator). Darnielle's

impassioned vocals build over his aggressive acoustic guitar, to the chorus -- he sounds great even if you're not following the spy story. "Heretic Pride" drags in places and suffers from too many tracks sounding the same, but tracks like "Craters on the Moon" and "How to Embrace a Swamp Creature" keep things engaging and warrant repeat listens.

Staff writer Josh Eiserike can be reached at 703-878-8072 or jeiserike@potomacnews.com.