It's a shame that the debut album by this Canadian foursome begins with singer-songwriter Sarah Harmer whining, "I poked my eye with my finger." It may sound like alternative Lisa Loeb, but Harmer and the group have a lot more to offer than that. Lying halfway between modern-day folk rock and a folky sort of alternative, the band shows a knack for catchy, powerful choruses, with "U.F.O. Rosie" and the mysterious "Westray" particular highlights. Harmer's lyrics can be confusing, but she knows enough to play with both sound and meaning. At the end of "Joint Acc't," about a male prostitute's night of work, she sings, "As morning comes, he does what every night boy does/ Deeply inhales a cab, catches a buzz." This is pop with heart and brains. Watch out.
