Two songs from each of these D.C.-area bands, and then one with all hands on deck. That's how you do it!

Flowerbomb/Pretty Bitter Take Me Out split EP (self-released)

But more precisely, Flowerbomb and Pretty Bitter specialize in that wistful, noisy jangle pop of the mid 90s. You know, the stuff that wasn't quite grunge. I suppose the Posies are a reference point, but I'd trend more toward either Scrawl, Hammerbox or . . . Cheap Trick--which is a ways to ramble.

Pretty Bitter is a bit more poppy (more Bangs-y, perhaps?), and Flowerbomb isn't shy about laying down a power riff or two. But the real eye-opener is the title track, where both bands join together. It's almost chamber-pop, with a side of slide. A totally different direction that is just as charming as the rest.

Most folks playing some sort of power pop are firmly in the shoegaze sound these days. It's refereshing to hear a couple of (local, for me!) bands head in other directions. Quite a sunny stunner.

Jon Worley