Who? San Diego-based Jim Hughes (vocals/guitar) and Mike Frey (bass) remain the only original members of the Transit War, a pop punk-pulsing indie rock quartet. Since dropping their demo EP in 2001, Jaime Solis (guitar) and Brad Bohensky (drums) have joined the band, and their first full-length, ¡Ah Discordia!, dropped last year.

What's the Deal? The Transit War's sophomore album, Miss Your Face, is spirited and tremulous, mixing mid-tempo pop with anthemic guitars and punk-inflected vocal intonations. "Hey! is for Horses" showcases Hughes' strained vox as he envisions being swallowed whole by a "dead little city." The town the singer mentions in "Nitetime Enemy" isn't quite as deadly ("We can be alright," Hughes yowls in the chorus), and the track is a punchy tribute to Canadian indie rockers the Weakerthans.

Fun Fact: The Transit War experienced L.A. the hard way: After a day of uneventful meetings and record label rejection, the band unexpectedly met Mike Tyson at a swanky restaurant. They joined him for dinner and, many cocktails later, challenged the heavyweight to some arm wrestling. Fortunately for them, the boxer passed out before he could partake in the match. STACEY ANDERSON

Now Hear This:
The Transit War - "Radar" (Download MP3)

On SPIN.com:
The Transit War Avoid Tornado, Write Track

Talk: Are you climbing on board for the Transit War? COMMENT

On the Web:
the transitwar.com