First of all, apologies from Low Budget Superhero to Rude Toys. It seems that our list of New England bands (the “MASSive Band List,” under Resources ) is not only out of date, it erroneously listed Rude Toys as defunct. Their press kit arrived with a note saying “we’re not defunct!” They proved it by enclosing Feel No Guilt , a 13-song follow-up to 2004’s Cry Out

Rude Toys are Tammy Schatz and Mike Myles on lead vocals and guitar respectively, CJ Cunningham on bass, and on drums the juicily-named Todd Cantalupo. Tammy and Mike write supremely confident songs, albeit in a changeable, eclectic style. The CD is a carnival ride - sunny, hook-filled and accessible when in pop mode, then easily swerving into a grittier, new-wave angst and even, at times, purely experimental. Let’s start with the pop. "Discount Lovers" for example - this is a sweet, catchy hit that Kelly Clarkson would have done well to include on her last record. That and several other tracks come very close to radio-ready, and thank god Tammy has a radio-ready voice. The girl can sing. She and Mike can also write great songs - Carrie Underwood would get a kick out of the swingy, soulful "Sixth Wave" with its awesome sixties girl-group sheen. With its vocal dynamics, insistent strings and lyrical prowess "Harm" will sit well with any Kate Bush fan. Then comes the harder "Pentad," with a killer bass line that positively stomps. A very cool sample-laden rocker, "Pentad" puts me in mind of Massive Attack. "Kommunikation," a seven-minute record closer, is so weird that it takes a turn towards the sonically-challenging world of Godspeed! You Black Emperor. Sinister ca-caws give way to resonant bell tolls, ocean waves and a symphony of small birdcalls. Boldly, the music (as in traditional instruments) doesn’t start in until the three-minute mark, and when it does it’s a big, organic, round-sounding wash of fat bass, drums backed against a choral wall of sound. Now, I’m quoted elsewhere as saying most ambient music sounds as interesting as a kitchen to me, but "Kommunikation" is something I’d play again. The final ten seconds of yodeling, footsteps and a door closing somehow works. I love it.

Funnily enough, "Kommunikation" sounds more like what I expected based on the band name. Maybe I was thinking of Walter Sickert & the Army of Broken Toys and their dark, art-rock noise. To Rude Toys’ credit, finding "Kommunikation" on the same record with such delicious pop as "Sixth Wave" and "Discount Lovers" is a joy to me - some might argue that they just can’t decide what they want to sound like. But I say go for it, be as weird as you want, baby.

All told, a wonderfully eclectic release from a pair of splendid songwriters who’ve assembled a terrific band. I’ll be first in line to buy a Rude Toys "Do We Look Defunct To You?" T-shirt.