Meet your scruffy, fun-loving Atlanta neighbors the Howlies. They live in a garage decorated with '60s arcana, including crisp guitars, sweet backing vocals and enthusiastic rhythms fueled by soda pop and junk food. There's a hint of psych in their hooky three-chord blasts, which generally chases a blend of Merseybeat chug and charm. The sound's a tad ramshackle but upbeat and catchy, like the Black Lips' hard-working brother. Accompanied by the resinous bluster of Rob Walsh's (Dirty Little Heaters, The Spinns) Bitter Resolve. —Chris Parker