Shamelessly aping Factory Records, Morrissey and anything else in Manchester that woefully crooned something strong, Chicago's Blah Blah Blah casts a few more shimmering-guitar hooks and lets the sun shine just enough to make this sound its own. Singer Solomon Moss wails over cymbal-washed bridges: "Blue moon, the reason why I smile." Another local act, Yawn, is anything but one, combining the powers of the former Metrovox with Panda Bear washes of psych-pop and just enough electric crunch to carry the irony of the band's new name. (Gavin Paul)
