Ultrafine’s Joe Ferland (guitar, vocals), Ed Fingerling (bass, vocals) and Eric Slovin (drums), three pals who reside in New York City, recently released their self-titled debut on JOE Records. While their classic guitar-bass-drums approach might seem almost quaint in this age of tape loops and electronic beats, the band's boundless energy keeps things fresh. Ferland's guitar playing draws upon such six-string legends as Jimi Hendrix and Pete Townshend, while Fingerling and Slovin form a propulsive rhythm section that colors the music as much as it keeps it moving. Ultrafine's vocals are appealingly straightforward. Their melodies and choruses come across without resorting to showy acrobatics or multi-tracked silliness.

A standout track from their debut CD, "Backstop" is the sort of chugging, mid-tempo, made-in-America rocker that sounds especially good after a few beers. The song has a catchy, country-tinged melody and friendly, "hey man, let's all sing along" harmonies. You can easily imagine it pumping out of a corner jukebox in a crowded bar. Ferland's guitar is the star here, mixing crunchy rhythm chords with wah-wah flourishes and occasional bursts of feedback. If you're looking for a good time, or just the soundtrack for your next round of shots, "Backstop" will certainly deliver the goods.

-- Dan Epstein

Dan Epstein is a Los Angeles-based journalist and pop-culture historian whose work has appeared in LA Weekly, BAM, Raygun, Guitar World and the Los Angeles Times, among other publications. His first book, Twentieth Century Pop Culture, was published in 1999 by Carlton Books.