Innings

iTunes Review

Nerdy jangle-pop trio Nodzzz continue their foray into quirky, sweaty-palmed indie rock that either charms or alarms depending on the listener’s taste. Innings is twice as long as the San Francisco band’s 2008 debut, and, oddly (considering their new home, Woodsist) it also has a sharper focus, with whiter whites and brighter brights. A palpable nervousness runs through the collection, most evident in the confessional “Fear of Advice.” That caffeinated vibe transforms tracks like “Old Clothes” and “Troubled Times” into house party-worthy tunes, with their seesawing guitars and hyperventilating rhythm sections and vocals. Nodzzz comes close to breezy and easy on “Always Make Your Bed,” with a guitar sound recalling the Vulgar Boatmen, and “Time (What’s It Going To Do)?,” where the melody bounces along like sunbeams on a field of poppies. Sweet.