The Like Young - Last Secrets

Amid the veritable slew of cutesy-pop man/wife acts, The Like Young stands out as a duo packing more balls (truly just one set) into their sound instead of relying on soaring synth lines for charming appeal akin to Mates of State-meets-Weezer. Last Secrets is the band's third LP but will be the first many have heard from the Ziembas (Joe and Amanda), as former releases were on the smaller indie label Parasol, and a lot of you may not have been around when the pair's previous band Wolfie was a champion of the indie-pop world. Typically you'd assume that a married couple making music would result in some happy end product, but Last Secrets, despite occasional hints of cuteness, is angst-ridden and dark, bereft of cheesy keyboards and bubbling harmonies. Additionally, the songs have some substance to reinforce the punky power-pop of the record. "All the Wrong Reasons" lectures about the women who lure older, rich men to wed them and the "weak men" who give in solely for the eye candy. Or, "Obviously Desperate," chronicling the sleazy, sex-obsessed male's desires. Despite the abundance of stark lyrical content, The Like Young has a penchant for wonderfully memorable melodies, and Amanda's sparkling coos contrast well with Joe's rougher half-shouted vocals. Last Secrets shows The Like Young growing as people and as musicians--probably even a couple, if you wanna read into it that much. It's also a worthwhile listen, though summer days are coming, and this record might not fare so well in the sunshine. [www.thelikeyoung.com]