We love Blur. And Super Furry Animals. And Happy Mondays, Pulp, and Supergrass. So it's not surprising that we enjoy Chicago-by-way-of-the-'burbs outfit Ultra Sonic Edukators. The group's writing style is firmly rooted in the mid-'90s British explosion; some fault them for that, but we are of the opinion that the world would be better off if more bands took their cues from that point in time.

The group has just released the digital only Bad Blood EP, containing one of our favorite tracks "Eyeliner Novocaine." The song's underpinning is a jouncy piano line slashed here and there by cascading sheets of guitar, with vocals delivered in a disaffected and winningly lackadaisical sneer. The whole package pretty neatly encapsulated what the band's whole sound is about, as it crescendos into pure in-the-red territory before abruptly petering out. The timing is perfect yet leaves the listener thirsting for more.

While the band's recorded output is taut and well arranged, their live show is the complete opposite, more Happy Mondays than Oasis. Limbs shake and move, painfully arrhythmic dance moves abound, and the whole thing would be such a visual mess if the boys on stage weren't obviously having the time of their lives. Give in to their infectious enthusiasm and you just might find yourself losing your inhibitions and joining in the fun.