Since the San Diego duo of Armistead B. Smith IV and Rob Crow released This Is Pinback in 1999, theyve been on a mix of The O.C. and have recently appeared on NPRs Talk of the Nation. Anyone who knew me during the winter of 200203 probably heard their debut plus their second album, Blue Screen Life, roughly 8 million times, but music that can be in the background isnt to be confused with boring music. On their fourth CD, Autumn of the Seraphs (which received drum efforts from Rocket From the Crypts Mario Rubalcaba), the Smith/Crow duo cements its ability to craft a melodic, hypnotic, yet relentlessly driving beat, one that swells and fades evenly, not unlike the San Diego tide and sunset themselves. Beautifully lulling indie comfort food: a surefire thing for the February blues, my friend. With MC Chris. KARLA STARR
Thu., Feb. 14, 8 p.m., 2008
