The Rosebuds -Make Out

Make Out is the kind of record that sneaks up on you. On first listen it's effective enough; by the third, it takes up permanent residence in your brain matter. Familiar (sometimes frustratingly so) and reassuring, The Rosebuds debut offers up the kind of immensely hummable, jangled-out Power Pop that makes label mates Imperial Teen so addicting. And like their mates, they too believe in gender equality: The husband-and-wife team of Ivan Howard (vocals/guitars) and Kelly Crisp (keyboards/vocals) lead the North Carolina three-piece through 11 hook-laden confections in 36 minutes. Album opener "Back to Boston" is a seductive introduction, deftly weaving dreamy keyboards, well-strummed guitars, caffeinated drumming and Howard's yearning vocals to satisfying results. Veteran knob turner Brian Paulson mostly stays out of the way, opting to let the band's vibrant melodies and refreshingly modest intentions carry the day. And that's all that's necessary, especially when the 'Buds offer up something as delicious as the driving "Drunkard's Worst Nightmare," which bursts out of the gates with this inviting salvo: "She's buck wild with her clothes off every night." Yeah, The Rosebuds travel down well-worn paths, but they do so with enough charm and verve that one doesn't mind Make Out's occasionally lightweight effect. On the jaunty "Kicks in the Schoolyard" Howard confesses "at a record store is where I spend all my time." Lucky for us, he's at the right one. (Jason Gargano) Grade: B

· BLINK 182 -- BLINK 182 (GEFFEN).

Blink 182 - Blink 182

Being the founders of the Pop/Punk invasion made Blink 182 a novelty act after a while. Overplayed and cheesy antics made a once semi-reputable Punk act into Britney Spears with tattoos. I guess being rich now has made the trio reflect a bit and attempt to finally grow up and write something worthwhile (or at least give it a good effort). The latest release, Blink 182, takes a very serious approach, leaving behind the poppy radio tracks for songs that are rather depressing. Most of the songs are aimed at ex-girlfriends, while a few of the tracks focus on living in war-time America and the effect it is having on people today. The album really doesn't pick up until the fourth track, "Violence," which hits on that "girl left me" chord, with guitarist Tom Delonge's chorus of "like violence you kill me." Other songs like the Reggae-influenced "Fallen Interlude" show a different approach for the band. The album's first single, "Feeling This" and "Go," are just good Punk songs period. However, the track that makes this record a definite must-have for any fan is "All of This," which features the ultimate in lost love crooners, Robert Smith, taking the mic and singing one of the most beautiful love songs I have ever heard. All in all, the record is a good start for the group to get back to what they were originally known for. (Nathan Linville) Grade: B

Dream Theater - Train Of Thought

· DREAM THEATER -- TRAIN OF THOUGHT (ELEKTRA).

Dream Theater certainly makes it easy for their label to pick a single. On Train of Thought, the Prog Metal band's latest album, the shortest song on the seven-track, 70-minute disc is "Vacant," clocking in at a brisk 2:58. With the other six tracks accounting for the remaining 67 minutes, you can do the math for the average length. As always, Dream Theater has a lot to say musically and lyrically on Train of Thought, and they're perfectly willing to test the limits of the CD's capacity to do it. DT's strong suit continues to be their ability to satisfy a broad range of musical tastes, from the bombastic Pop/Metal aspects of their sound ("As I Am," "Endless Sacrifice") to their heavy Prog nature ("In the Name of God"). Guitarist John Petrucci plays with Randy Rhodes' shrieking intensity and Al DiMeola's impossible delicacy; keyboardist Jordan Rudess is a master of atmosphere; DT's rhythm section of drummer Mike Portney and bassist John Myung is concussive yet incredibly expansive; and vocalist James LaBrie can shift from soaring clarity to shredding rumble. It might not be groundbreaking, but Dream Theater knows well how to play to their audience in the balcony. (Brian Baker) Grade: B

Honky Tonk Chateau - Walk In The Sun

· Honky Tonk Chateau -- Walk in the Sun (Slewfoot).

With a whiskey-voiced frontwoman and a foundation of chugging Country-tinged Roots Rock, Honky Tonk Chateau capably recalls the glory days of Sheri Knight and the Blood Oranges. Those are hard boots to fill completely, and HTC still has a little road to travel; Sheri Hurst has a nice vocal presence with a tendency to veer into the edgy territory staked out by Lucinda Williams ("Chalk It Up," "Fate"), and the band has plenty of chops but are still swinging just this side of the Oranges' heartbreaking soul. Bassist Matt Netzer's vocal appearances nod in the direction of T-Bone Burnett ("Twenty Six Miles," "Hit You Too Hard") while guitarist Mike Stevens cuts a Steve Earle figure through his tracks ("Let You Go," "Long Holidays," "Distraction"). The Missouri quartet is obviously helped a great deal by sympathetic production from local legend Lou Whitney, making Walk in the Sun a fine place to start working toward something with just a touch more musical substance. (BB) Grade: B-

Lisa Loeb and Elizabeth Mitchell - Catch The Moon

· Lisa Loeb and Elizabeth Mitchell -- Catch the Moon (Artemis).

Taking a cue from former Del Fuegos guitarist Dan Zanes (and thanking him in the liner notes), Pop/Rock contessa Lisa Loeb unplugs and assembles a sweet acoustic set aimed at a younger demographic than she normally attracts, namely the pre-school set. Performed with her former musical partner Elizabeth Mitchell (they played and recorded as Liz and Lisa while attending Brown University in the mid-'80s) and Mitchell's husband Dan Littleton (they're better known as indie Pop duo Ida) and packaged with a lovely children's story in board book fashion, Catch the Moon is both a wonderful kids record and an Indie Pop gem. The title story, written by Mitchell's mother, Bonnie, is a delightful conversation between two little girls trying to touch the heavens, and the title song is its beautifully lilting Pop translation. Other highlights include an exquisite reading of Bob Dylan's "New Morning," a jaunty update of "Big Rock Candy Mountain" and a breezy take on Stephen Foster's "Oh Susanna," wedded to a lick from Rod Stewart's "Gasoline Alley." Perfect for kids and their Pop-loving parents. (BB) Grade: A-