Brooklyn’s Takka Takka seem overly casual or even apologetic at first, but there’s a sneaky intensity to the minimalist urban rock’n’roll on this wonderful debut. Resisting cynicism and self-pity, wry frontman Gabriel Levine sings the way people talk, resembling a nicer Lou Reed as he offers moral support to self-conscious loners who get caught up in society’s games, only to “break under pressure.” Sample throwaway gem: “You pushed real hard / But you never pushed enough.”
Now Hear This: Takka Takka – “Draw a Map” DOWNLOAD MP3