Ruby Keeler

Shiver Shiver

(Route 14)

Unless you slept through the early ’90s, there probably isn’t a note on Shiver Shiver you haven’t heard before, but then you could say the same thing about Belle and Sebastian, and that hasn’t stopped them from amassing the most rabid cult following since Jim Jones. Old enough to remember when Sonic Youth still rocked, savvy enough to know that the quiet parts of My Bloody Valentine records were often the best, the Philly foursome owes a sizable debt to Pavement as well, both for its jangle-noise textures and for Malkmusian lyrical fragments like "Dodge Dart, Saginaw/ Sources say the case is solved/ Turns out you were not involved" (from "Fireside"). If Ruby Keeler hasn’t quite digested their influences, it might just be because it’s an awfully big meal. But even with mouths full, Ruby’s frantic ode to "Helena Bonham Carter (no relation)" makes for catchy, crunchy listening.

—Sam Adams

Ruby Keeler plays with The Science Of and Aspera Ad Astra on Sun., Feb. 6, at Silk City, Fifth and Spring Garden Sts., 215-922-8838.