February 17-23, 2005

musicpicks

The Futureheads

Rock/pop

While Green Day rings up sales and critical raves, it's Britain's Futureheads who are doing the most for power punk — post, artsy or otherwise. Like his American counterparts, vocalist/guitarist Barry Hyde looks askew at the lousy world around him. Rather than focus on the drudgery of politics or the torpor of his nation, on Futureheads' eponymous debut, Hyde seeks optimism in songs like "The City Is Here for You to Use." That same level of joy can be found in the way the band's oddly melodic songs jerk and herk, their guitars gurgle and slash, their harmonies mesh effortlessly. The Futureheads recall, at times, XTC and Gang of Four without any trendy flash — a sound due in part to the spare production values unsurprisingly provided by Gang guy Andy Gill.

Wed., Feb. 23, 8 p.m., $10-$12, with Highspeed Demons and The Shoutout Louds, The TLA, 334 South St., 215-922-1011.

—A.D. Amorosi