The Annuals - Sweet Sister

In a very brief four years, Raleigh NC indie-pop sextet The Annuals would appear to have run the "music biz" gamut. A 2006 debut Be He Me jumpstarted the momentum on a swell of glowing reviews followed by the "major label" signing and the release of sophomore album Such Fun. But with the "industry" upside down and the critical darlings, "next-big-thing" buzz fading The Annuals have wisely gone back to their own provocative basics for the independent-released March 30 EP Sweet Sister.

Frontman and creative leader Adam Baker is back in the production seat for the five new tracks and the spotlight is once again on the mercurial melodic structures and intricate, oddly syncopated rhythmic sound tapestries that brought The Annuals their original kudos. Where Such Fun brought in an ever-expanding palette of influences and styles, Sweet Sister keeps the focus more tightly on the bright, occasionally quirky art-pop -- which isn't to say that the band has become less experimental. Songs such as the twisty, sweetly jumbled lead track "Loxstep" still skip and bounce with the band's trademark audacity, a sophisticated potion that goes down easy but carries a potent, giddy kick. Recommended.

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The Annuals - "Loxstep" (from the EP Sweet Sister)