The Incurables

Inside Out & Backwards

Big Stir Records

The power of this band's style of punky power pop (think Ramones, MC5, Stooges) is really something! It’s a charge, a pick-me-up anytime one needs it, and will put a spring in your step if you’re walking around, or make your motor race if you’re in your car.

The directness and clearness of the music is reflected in the lyrics too. They're direct, clear, plain-spoken, and always have something to say, like “When I Grow Up,” which is about what you’re expecting the world to be like once you do, but somehow it never quite happens. “Soda Pop,” while it’s about the various names people have for soft drinks and their containers, also could be about diversity. It's a goof, yet a serious one.

It’s great to hear that punk is alive and well, that the underground still has great bands surfacing from it, and that Detroit has a good music scene. It’s wonderful to hear this band. No doubt you’ll feel the same, so try them out and see if they don’t grab you too.

Andrea Weiss