The Futureheads

Two years ago, the Futureheads were easy to write off. The UK quartet was catchy but forgettable among the new wave of postpunk. The band’s only saving grace was a bouncy rendition of Kate Bush’s “Hounds of Love.” Nothing on News and Tributes offers that kind of instant gratification, but the Futureheads have learned to refine their greatest asset: the back-up vocal. On the debut, the band used its barbershop-inspired harmonies to compensate for its repetitive tempos and lackluster substance (hence the irony in “Stupid and Shallow”). New tracks such as “Burnt” and “Area” still rely on all four pipes; the sophomore LP’s strength comes from further unexpected surprises. “Thursday” and “Face” sound like B-sides from an ’80s John Hughes soundtrack, and “Return of the Berserker” acts as an anti-intermission, splitting two of the album’s slowest tracks with a vicious onslaught of heavy drums and guitar. From punk anthems to XTC-meets-Devo art-rock, the Futureheads are getting harder to pass over. A little English charm doesn’t hurt, either. <