Washington's Velocity Girl spent the year since the release of their '93 Sub Pop debut, Copacetic, touring endlessly and fighting off major labels. Instead of biting, they committed to Sub Pop for five more records. If Simpatico! is any indication of what this deal will produce, this fivesome doesn't need the majors.

The very first guitar shriek on Simpatico! slices through any residue left over...

Copacetic' is a deceptively accurate title for Velocity Girl's debut long player: It sounds like a soothing pharmaceutical with potentially hallucinatory effects yet is actually archaic slang meaning "excellent." Either definition fits VG's haunting yet hummable noise pop.

Comparisons to British shoegazers like My Bloody Valentine and Lush dog Velocity Girl, and not entirely without reason; they...