Tokyo Police Club

Tokyo Police Club delivers a jerky, unsettling debut EP with seven short but sweet killer cuts. This quirky Canadian post-punk band blends heavy bass licks, emotive guitar hooks and noise-pop dance beats in each of their two minute tracks. Fragmented, raw and unrestrained, A Lesson In Crime is jammed with songs about Martian moons and the apocalypse, in addition to swift, catchy tunes like "Cheer It On" and "If It Works."

If only all young guitar bands were smart enough to rock out this fast, banging out seven
first-rate mod-punk party-starters in barely more than sixteen minutes. This foursome has
nothing to do with Tokyo (they're from suburban Toronto) or law enforcement; they have
everything to do with Buzzcocks-style velocity and Strokes-style guitar hooks, without
slowing down for a breath. Their debut EP has no fat on its bones, from the mom... More >

For 16 minutes and seven songs, four Toronto DIYs make it seem easy--not their talent, their spirit. Articulated guitar cycles don't occur to every indie wannabe, which is why so many pretend they have bigger plans; the trick of skirting meaning without risking the full monty leaves most bands with their panties in a bunch. But so often those who have the talent don't believe, or convince us, that such feats are beautiful, engaging, worth doing. These kids know the gift is for sharing. (Grade - A-)