Disco for the youth

Consisting of two tracks, "Me and Giuliani Down by the Schoolyard (A True Story)" and "Intensifieder (Sunracapellectrohshit mix 03)" !!! (pronounced "chk chk chk")'s new EP runs a pleased with itself 18-minutes long. But man, the EP's pleasing and the perfect way to prime music dorks for the band's full-length due in 2004. Moving better than the expectant mother it's portraying, !!! takes a bit of substance and puts it to disco beats. With one of the best namechecking lines ever ("I got this friend named Neil, swears Nixon's got soul"), !!! takes typically de facto annoying ingredients -- almost grating vocals, cowbells, a weird band name -- and makes its songs danceable and cool as hell. With a few former/co-members of Out Hud and a noteable review from NME, these kids are even soaking in the hipster pool, but still remain one of the best things out this year. Catchy without being pushy, !!! will sneak up on you and then tell you slightly clinched stories you want to hear despite yourself. And you'll love the band's "doo doo doos." A guy even burps in the beginning of the second track and makes it sound great.