In the summer, in the spring, in public places…so many times and so many locales for this auspicious debut to be inexorably and spectacularly engrained in your consciousness. Three gents and one young lady present ten expressions of poignant revelation, twinkling exhilaration, brooding meditation, and brash declaration. The self-titled debut from stellastarr* benefits from a dizzying array of elements and emotions combined into an entirely unique and utterly spellbinding statement, one that embodies, from start to finish, all that's potentially shimmering and beautiful in rock music.

Recorded, and produced by Tim O'Heir (Sebadoh, The Folk Implosion, Dinosaur Jr, Superdrag, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, The All-American Rejects) in three small - and often falling apart - studios in NYC & Brooklyn, the stellastarr* debut represents the culminating moment of three evolutionary years over which four artists found their stride, not to mention a growing mass of devoted and mesmerized followers. From chilling and emotive epics like the haunting album-opener "In The Walls" and the twinkling "Homeland" to buoyant, fuzzy, and surging scorchers like "No Weather," "Somewhere Across Forever," and "Pulp Song," stellastarr*s offerings are ample and diverse, far removed from the drunken, ego-centric bravado of many of today's talked about rock bands.

Vocals from singer/guitarist Shawn Christensen have an immediately arresting quality, ranging from the delicate balladry of "Untitled" to the inspired, half-crazed inner monologue turned inside out that closes "Jenny." Bassist Amanda Tannen lays down melodic and chugging basslines on tracks like the giddy "My Coco" and adds depth of character with her cooing backing vocals on a number of entries, particularly "A Million Reasons" and "No Weather." Guitarist Michael Jurin employs many weapons in his arsenal, from the the lilting wails of "Moongirl" to the soaring solo at the end of "Jenny" to the snarling riffs of "Pulp Song," not to mention key moments of distinct vocal accompaniment on "My Coco" and "Somewhere Across Forever." Whether thumping away on "Jenny," building the percolating rhythm of "A Million Reasons," or pounding out the ending of "No Weather," Arthur Kremer is a Tasmanian Devil behind the drums, providing the band with the proper pulse for all occasions.