But do they deserve it? Well, the guitarist seems to be somehow hung up on both the Edge circa Unforgettable Fire and a motley crew of hair-metal shredders; singer Sam Endicott lifted his anguished, world-weary faux-English drawl lock, stock, and smoking eye shadow from Robert Smith; the drummer rides his high hats nonstop, as if he's in New Order; and the whole thing rests on 2K4's de rigueur bed of warm synths and droning bass. It's all very danceable, of course, and it is pleasant. But here's the thing: All their songs sound alike, and they all sound like last year, not this year. It's bands like this that will smother retro-'80s rock in its cradle. Oh, and poseur alert! Did you know that just two years ago, Endicott -- who is now decked out in leather and a Morrissey-style pompadour -- was the dreads-sporting leader of a ska band called Skabba the Hutt?
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