Hard-to-pigeonhole, bass-less Knoxville trio Royal Bangs are back with their third album of funky, danceable indie rock, Flux Outside. Singer/ keyboardist Ryan Schaefer's dramatic delivery leads the way as keyboards wriggle like a teen squirming out of responsibility. Their latest isn't as chaotic or uptempo as 2009's Let It Beep. Rather, they attempt to stretch their boundaries, leaving the rock playground at times to pursue windier prog-like structures. Thankfully, they don't get bogged down in the knottier arrangements, splashing through each groovy turn with the unbridled enthusiasm of a child in an inflatable pool. With Antibubbles. —Chris Parker