the Boxing Lesson and Lalaland

The Boxing Lesson

Songs in the Key of C (Diamond)

Lalaland

Mumbojumbo EP (Coup d'Etat)

These debuts total just more than an hour of listening time well spent, from two local trios who deserve more of a following. Though claiming "Indie Rock Is Dead," the Boxing Lesson's Songs in the Key of C provides enough lo-fi life support in its tales of criminals and crackheads to stay the reaper. Opener "Back From the Dead" welds ghostly theremin to a knotty rock tune, opening a Pandora's box of psychedelia explored further in the gothy "Climb the Ladder" and Bowie-esque "Mirrors." Well-versed in the writings of Robert Pollard, Lalaland offers jaunty melodies sparring with ambivalent lyrics about the rock & roll life. Sneering "Monkey See Monkey Do," which tosses an emphatic trumpet behind choppy guitar chords, is more GBV-like than the outright power-pop of "Over Again" and "Waiting on Us," but all of Mumbojumbo feels somehow intricate and off-the-cuff. Call on the power of three.

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