March 10-16, 2005

musicpicks

Magnapop

rock/pop

Fans got burned by Magnapop's last scheduled stop at the Khyber in 1998, when Linda Hopper and Ruthie Morris skipped town before their gig and went into hiding. But six and a half years is enough time to forgive, and their new disc is hard to forget. Mouthfeel (Daemon) offers no apologies, but Hopper's lyrics are loaded with references to the band's prolonged absence. She lays it down: Where she and Morris have been ("California"), where they haven't ("Pretend I'm There") and where but for the grace of God ("Elliott"). "The In-Between" and "We're Faded" go lilting past your hips, then burn themselves into your mind. Guitarist Morris has lost none of her power-pop prowess, and in Scott Rowe, she's finally found a bassist who can keep up. Hopper's mood swings from noncommittal to disappointed to hopeful, but onstage, she rivals Kim and Kelley Deal for giddiest woman alive. When it comes to partying like it's 1995, Magnapop's a sure thing. Assuming they make it here this time.

Magnapop, Thu., March 10, 9 p.m., $8, with Barking Spiders, The Happy Accident and Slackharmonic, The Khyber, 56 S. Second St., 215-238-5888.

—M.J. Fine