The Cover Up

Already having to deal with the backlash of the band's name, I Am the World Trade Center faced further troubles before the release of its third record: the closing of its record label (Kindercore, co-founded by IATWTC's Dan Geller) and the romantic break-up of Geller and vocalist Amy Dykes. Surprisingly, The Cover Up still sounds upbeat and bright, even when the duo shifts toward the colder, robotic side of electro-pop. The warmer feeling can mostly be attributed to Dykes, who's more on par with new wave heroes Blondie than the monotone of Ladytron and Adult. Geller sometimes steps away from the laptop just long enough to add his own vocals, interacting with Dykes on their cover of the Jam's "Going Underground" and the guitar-led "Different Stories." Although some of the tracks seem like replicas of their previous album and Dykes' voice sometimes falls flat, The Cover Up makes up for that with the attitude that nonstop dance music can save the day.