NOISY NEIGHBORS [Correction 1/31/11]

MEAN CREEK

HEMOPHILIAC EP

Capitalizing on a big 2010 following its smash-up epic "Comedian"7-inch single and an all-around nationwide blitz buzzing on itsstern anthems and wide-screen production, Mean Creek posted thisintimidating four-song pep talk for free on the Internet last week.(Physical copies become available tomorrow night at the band'sBrighton Music Hall release show.)

Opener "Sunlight" dawns slowly but surely on beds of shimmeryguitars and tambourine, with big martial choruses and waves ofgloriously spilled, self-doubting diary ink. But the sparks start tofly once "I'm So Afraid" opens up with Mean Creek's towering blendof stadium-filling drums, prom-night guitars, and "Heroes"-era Bowievocal grandstanding from Chris Keene. Mean Creek doesn't so muchshimmy or shuffle into your heart as knock the door down and standthere pounding on the walls.

"No One Has to Know" adds righteous backups from guitarist AuroreOunjian, tossing and turning through a wrenching confessionalsuicide watch and moving us into full-on U2 spiritual medicine manmode. The more awkward the lyric ("They don't love you for the womanyou are/ It's their stain, it's their scar"), the more reassuring isthe band's monolithic backdrop of blasted-out minor chords andechoing feedback.

ESSENTIAL "No One Has to Know"

"Hemophiliac" can be downloaded at www.meancreek.bandcamp.com.Mean Creek plays the Brighton Music Hall tomorrow night.

21noisy.ART