Forms Discography of CDs

Recording information: Baucom Road; Florida Keys, New York, NY. Personnel: Alex Tween (vocals, keyboards); Jim Fowler (guitar); Matt Walsh (drums, sampler). Audio Mixers: The Forms; Scott Solter.

Nearly four years after their debut album, Icarus, the Forms return with the far superior self-titled follow-up. Again working with Steve Albini, the Brooklyn-based quartet moves far beyond the chilly, slightly pretentious post-rock of 2003's Icarus. The Forms is much more song-based and melodic than its sketchier predecessor, with a new emphasis on structure and tunes. The album is still a moody and impressionistic affair that favors sensuality over literal meaning -- lead singer Alex Tween's vocals are buried so deep in the mix he often might as well not be singing in English -- but songs like "Transmission," "Getting It Back," and "Knowledge in Hand" are far easier to grasp than anything on the Forms' debut. Even the less direct material, like "Focus" and "Oberlin," two brief songs that are more like evocative soundscapes than fully fleshed-out pop songs, feels more precisely put together. Experimental without losing its accessibility, The Forms is an excellent example of how to make a smart, compelling indie rock album without getting lost in the weeds of artsy meaninglessness. ~ Stewart Mason The Forms: Matt Walsh, Alex Tween, Brendan Kenny, Jackson Kenny. Recording information: Electrical Audio; Great Western Records Records.

Forms music CDs This Brooklyn, NY-based trio might ring something similar to a kinder, gentler spin on the nouveau stylizations of the rock unit Sonic Youth. This is an enhanced CD, featuring color photos of bridges and overpasses amid various "form" factors and architecturally highlighted images. Curiously, the band's debut clocks in at a paltry 18 minutes in length. The group's chemistry consists of droning electric guitar voicings, discordant themes, and subliminally orchestrated choruses that become more prominent on repeated spins. The group implements a change of scenery on occasion, thanks to a few airy dreamscapes featuring the whispery vocals of either Alex Tween or Robert Stillwell over the top. They integrate acoustic piano instrumentation into their somewhat blustery mix, amid understated textures and twang-oriented crunch chords. Moreover, the legendary Steve Albini complements this pleasantly packaged concept via a shrewd sonic mix. Despite the abbreviated length of this CD, the trio possesses the goods to become a major force within the modern rock circuit. ~ Glenn Astarita The Forms: Ecco Teres (vocals, guitar, keyboards); Rob Stillwell (vocals, bass); Acquaman (drums).