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ALBUM REVIEW: Quasi, Field Studies

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Quasi fits well into the ever-interlocking web of underground pop. Janet Weiss, the drummer, is also in Sleater-Kinney; Sam Coomes, who plays keyboards, sings and writes the songs, played in Heatmiser with Elliott Smith. Sleater-Kinney and Elliott Smith fall into sort of opposing sides of the pop spectrum: one is a power-chord fueled girl-pop band and the other is more folk-influenced, acoustic-guitar driven.

Quasi has little in common with either. "Me and My Head" sounds a little like Elliott Smith and "It Don't Mean Nothing," is probably the closest thing to a punk song that Field Studies can get.

But for the most part, Field Studies is an upbeat pop album with lots of organ-sounding keyboards and neat-sounding arrangements that are simple but still hold your attention. "The Skeleton" sounds almost like a song you'd hear while riding a carousel; despite the name and the depressing lyrics, it's one of the catchiest songs on the album, with "Birds" and "A Fable With No Moral" coming in at a close second and third.

Quasi has that same melodic quality that most bands of its kind try to get at - sort of like Olivia Tremor Control if they could only play their instruments better. Field Studies is fun and catchy; be sure to catch Quasi when they play Club Congress on Oct. 19. - Annie Holub