Tom Lynch

When Canadian four-piece Tokyo Police Club emerged in 2006 with the "A Lesson in Crime" EP, the band was tapped as the next big thing from up north, and now with the release of its debut full-length, "Elephant Shell" (Saddle Creek), the group’s come to collect. While the band’s relatively basic brand of post-punk wouldn’t normally put it past its peers, the outfit’s youth grabs your attention first—this is a young, awakened record clearly made by excitable kids—and that refreshment speaks volumes, both about the band and about music as a whole right now. The guitars—meshing together prettily and in a cleanly assembled swarm—dance along with an inventive bass and driving drums (not to mention essential keyboard parts); frontman David Monks’ voice, smooth and adolescent without being annoying, matches the sound with surprising proficiency. As evidenced by the first EP, Tokyo Police Club’s strength is in crafting quick-fire songs that don’t dangle, and the material on "Elephant Shell" doesn’t stray from that method. The record’s here and gone in a flash.

Tokyo Police Club plays May 5 at Metro, 3730 North Clark, (773)549-0203, at 8pm. $15. (2008-04-29)

Also by Tom Lynch

Rollin' Down to Cicero
Quick count: are there more stubbed-out cigarette butts outside Cicero Stadium, or more sleeve-tattoos inside? The gymnasium, full up on plastic cups of beer and sausage-and-cheese slices, with stands packed from floor to ceiling, has reached an uncomfortable temperature
(2008-04-22)

Tip of the Week
Ontario’s Constantines have been crafting genre-bending rock ‘n’ roll records for some time now—both "Shine a Light" (2003) and "Tournament of Hearts" (2005), each on Sub Pop, are memorable blends of classic rock and Fugazi-like structuring—and this month’s "Kensington Heights" (Arts & Crafts) might be the band’s best effort yet
(2008-04-22)

A New Kind of Body Farm
Mary Roach’s 2003 book, "Stiff: The Curious Lives of Cadavers," left an unexpected mark on me, a recurring creep-out I have, midday, at least once a week
(2008-04-22)

On Almost Any Wednesday Evening
Amidst the late-day upheaval that is Michigan Avenue at 5pm on a Wednesday, the Apple Store, bombarded with mid-nineties alt-rock thrill-seekers, has a distinct voice clamoring from its upstairs theater area, that of Adam Duritz
(2008-04-15)

Scout's Honor
(2008-04-15)

Soundcheck
(2008-04-08)

Soundcheck
(2008-04-08)

Tip of the Week
(2008-04-08)

Lucky You
(2008-04-01)

Tip of the Week
(2008-04-01)

Death Knell
(2008-03-25)

Tip of the Week
(2008-03-25)

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