Internal Logic

The San Francisco trio Grass Widow evokes girl-group pop, Brit-punk saviors like Wire and The Raincoats, the twee punk of Olympia, Wash.–based K Records, and any number of DIY bands from across the decades. The group's simplicity and enthusiasm make it immediately appealing, and its harmonies are more complex than its basic sound suggests. "Spock on Muni" charms with a grumbling bass, an elemental electric guitar lead, and vocals that twist toward dream pop. "A Light in the Static" is a gentle nylon-string acoustic instrumental that's the perfect interlude for this endearing collection. Grass Widow knows that hooks are what keep listeners putting songs on repeat. Like the best new wave rock of the late '70s—Blondie, Talking Heads—the songs on Internal Logic demand your repeated attention. "Disappearing Industries," "Advice," "Whistling in the Dark," "Response to Photographs," and "Under the Atmosphere" center on chords and tunes that most any band could play. The fact that Grass Widow can create something exciting from these basic tools (and got around to executing it) makes all the difference.