Rare are the times I jump into an album by a band I’ve never heard of with very high expectations. Helps keep disappointment to a minimum.

Well, Figurines are proving to be the exception. The four-piece outfit from Denmark is winning me over with bright guitars and singer Christian Hjelm’s somewhat off-key (not quite Clap Your Hands off-key) yet charming vocals.

The group’s influences – Pavement, Built to Spill, Neil Young – are all pretty clear. But the rhythms and melodies are a little more taut in the hands of Figurines. At times, chord progressions move quickly; think Built to Spill on Red Bull.

Rolling Stone senior editor David Fricke is a fan. And I’ll be damned if I just missed Figurines on KEXP the other day.

Buy Skeleton at Amazon. Check out the group’s media and downloads page for more goodies.

Figurines | Silver Ponds
Figurines | Rivalry