Based on the views of The Fiery Furnaces and Heartaches threads (thanks for the support JackT and Withahip) But if I can stress one band PUHLEASE check out the Exploding Hearts. I left a lengthy and heartfelt (AKA a beer an Ambien fueled) dissertation on the forum that shall not be named and they really are a big deal. Insanely catchy power pop/punk with lyrics which veer wildly from the insanely witty to extremely heartfelt. Adding a bit of poignance to the music (and one of the great tragedies of my life) is three out of the four members perished in a car accident in 2003. But they left behind two amazing albums which made me feel excited about music in a way I hadn't been since the first round of punk/post-punk bands.
http://www.explodinghearts.com/
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fu ... d=50784827
http://www.deafsparrow.com/FeatureExplodingHearts.htm
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