Hear Me on the Number Station

As a staunch fan of the Flying Nun roster, Stefan Christensen likes his music hooky, simple, and just a bit off-kilter, and on his fourth album with his band Estrogen Highs, 2014's Hear Me on the Number Station, that's just what he has to offer. Sounding appropriately lo-fi, Hear Me on the Number Station is filled to bursting with jangle and static, like an early Guided by Voices album without the semi-prog rock lyrics, and Christensen knows how to make a tune rise to the surface amidst the buzzy backdrops. Christensen and his band -- Mark Scialabba on guitar and bass, Wes Nelson on bass and guitar, and Ross Menze on drums -- are sometimes less than precise, but like their obvious inspirations, Estrogen Highs get the spirit right, and "Human Flings," "Privilege," "The Russian," and "Argyle Enthusiast" are all fine pop/rock tunes that would do most any indie pop act proud. The bare-bones, sometime clattery production works for this music, and Estrogen Highs have great ideas and the means and desire to do something with them on Hear Me on the Number Station. ~ Mark Deming