Who? According the band, a "paper trigger" is an apparatus that releases water into a toilet bowl. With jokes aside, Papertrigger is five guys from Syracuse, NY who now reside in Philadelphia, PA; Chris Manglos (vocals/piano), Josh Taylor (guitar), Brian Dwyer (drums/vocals), Adam Smith (bass) and Andrew Honess (guitar). Their self-released debut, the Riot Lovers EP, arrived earlier this month.

What's the Deal? Riot Lovers could have been recorded in an old western saloon on Neptune. Manglos' prominent classical piano style and the group's infectious indie rock sound have drawn comparisons to Beirut and Ben Folds, but Papertrigger's distinctive combination of soulful vocals, guttural baselines, and crashing drums is too immense to fit into any genre. "We Are Nations Now!" is an operatic rock arpeggio featuring a raucous chorus, which could very well be sung by drunken pirates. Fans of Portishead and Joe Henry will be enticed by "Fox Hunting," a steady ladder of heavy reverb where Manglos and Dwyer climb in a slow rhythm of melancholy vocals. The near-five minute "The Inner Party" feels like a noir detective story narrated by dissonant piano chords, winding guitar riffs, and an elusive saxophone.

Fun Fact: Bassist Adam Smith and drummer Brian Dwyer once participated in a medical study together. They spent 11 days in a laboratory without sunlight, cell phones, or outside contact. Dwyer tells SPIN.com, "It's probably the craziest thing he and I have ever done for money." 

Now Hear This: Papertrigger - "We Are Nations Now!" DOWNLOAD MP3

On the Web:
Papertrigger at MySpace
papertrigger.com

Talk: Has Papertrigger turned you into a "Riot Lover?"