Brass

Royal Bangs have slid from the noisy toe-tappers of earlier records to a brighter pastiche of styles heard on their fourth album – a transformation not unlike the Black Keys', whose Patrick Carney produced Brass. But it's hard not to hear stronger bands all over the LP. The sweeping "Laurel" could be a My Morning Jacket B side, and ELO get a workout on "Octagon." Do the Shins know about "Better Run"?