These Chicago-based indie rockers site classic ’60s pop and psychedelia as big influences, but one listen to Unicycle Loves You’s self-titled debut will probably remind most listeners of Canadian power pop powerhouses the New Pornographers with their harmonizing male/female vocals, chiming jangle pop riffs and upbeat keyboards. They even got the quirk factor down with songs like “Great Bargains for Seniors” and “Woman Bait for Manfish,” the latter of which gets bonus points for featuring a marimba intro. Don’t mistake them for clones of that supergroup from the Great White North though, because their ’60s influences do eventually make their way to forefront with it all coming together on the wonderfully psychedelic closing track “Dangerous Decade.” They also stand out from their Canadian contemporaries thanks to their lyrical cynicism and dark wit, both of which are delivered perfectly via the ever-so-slightly sneering vocals of lead singer Jim Carroll (no relation to The Basketball Diaries guy). Now all they need to do is work on that truly awful band name. (LABEL: Highweel Records 2008)
