Pomeroy

Like its Nebraska neighbor 311, Pomeroy seems immune to both critical barbs and the plummeting fortunes of genres similar to its own. The latest effort from these Lawrence transplants reveals no Identity crisis; Pomeroy still blends underground-style hip-hop, free-flowing funk and falsetto choruses. Not content merely to rap about rap the way many acts in the conscious crowd do, Pomeroy sings about it, too, harmonizing the phrase sucka MCs. There isn’t any metal ax-grinding to scare away mellowed-out dudes, but “Lies of September” might be too easygoing for even the smooth-sailing set. New keyboardist Tyson Leslie pays immediate dividends, plinking down loopy hooks for the lyricists and donating organ when the tracks need a boost.