The Lovely Sparrows take your hats off you godless bastards ( the lovely sparrows ) 2005 The Lovely Sparrows are a brand new Austin indie pop band whose take your hats off you godless bastards 7" is one of the surprise finds of the year. Not only is it pressed on clear vinyl (an audiophilic glory in and of itself), but both songs are fantastic, marrying many of the finer points of Pavement, the New Pornographers (and Zumpano), the Kinks and the more upbeat moments of San Francisco's dearly departed For Stars. Side A's "Glad Rangers" is a melodic rush in the vein of "Letter from an Occupant", an exhilarating yet tightly-focused celebration of lo fi keyboards and eager snare rolls. The glorious chime of jangly guitars throw reverberating sparks around boy girl vocals and charging bass, giving hope to all those bummed out by the mid-tempo mire of Twin Cinema. Side B's "I Have a Need You See" is a measured slice of churning neo-British Invasion packed full of both clever lyrics and satisfying nonsense vocals wrapped around airtight melodies. A thinking man's anthem, "I Have A Need You See" artfully disguises detailed guitar craftsmanship as carefree pop fun. Pick one up for yourself or for that most adventurous and discriminating pop fan in your life, this one's highly recommended. Rooney 11.16.05 www.sctas.com