It's not a question of if, but rather when the Dambuilders will break through and register on alternative rock radio's radar. Still recuperating from the disappointing commercial reception given their 1995 album, "Ruby Red," the Boston-based foursome got past its angst to complete its next album, "Against the Stars," due out July 29 on Elektra Records.

\\The new album features what a label spokesperson calls "tongue-in-cheek disco," and it marks the Dambuilders' return to a poppier sound of their 1994 album, "Encendador."

\\The new album's title is loosely inspired by a New York Times article on the Heaven's Gate fiasco. "Against" was recorded over a six month period in a Boston basement studio and includes 13 tracks, three sung by violinist/pianist Joan Wasser.

\\"[The songs] are more 'up," says frontman Dave Derby. "They're sexier. They're a little bit dancier ... It's great. I'm biased, I guess."

\\One song, "Breakup with Your Boyfriend," was written during a career-affirming epiphany the band had while on tour Down Under. "We had acquired all this beer at shows [in Australia] and decided to drink it on the way to the next show," explains Derby. "By the time we got there and did ["Boyfriend"] during soundcheck -- we were totally wasted. It's a break-up song, but in a good way."

\\The Dambuilders' greatest gift may be their ability to weave strings and keyboards into traditional pop. On this album, for the first time, the band also used editing tools to convey the sonic illusion of a full orche