Locals And Andy release High & Tight on Saturday at Radio Down with Bulletproof Charm, Chaselounge and Louisville's Waterproof Blonde opening. The disc will be available online for download via iTunes on Tuesday.

Making full use of the band's influences (Weezer, Superdrag, Foo Fighters) as touchstones, but exercising their own righteous Pop sensibility, And Andy's High & Tight is a head rush of summery boy/girl Pop anthems ("Waiting," "For the First Time"), churning two-minute rockers ("Leo," "What You Say") and a little illicit backroom sex thrown in for good measure ("Find a Way"). What lifts H&T above the din of bland, sugary Pop that currently permeates the airwaves is its fresh approach to melodic Guitar Rock, infusing songs with innovative riffs, shifting tempos and irresistible choruses. "Leo" is downright infectious, with its Cars' inflected "How good it can be-oh" refrain, while "Nothing Left To Say" moves slickly along Rob Warnick's chugging, melodic bass lines. Warnick and guitarist Josh Purnell craft the bulk of the songs and prove excellent students of the "Big Book of Hooks," injecting '90s-era power-chord Rock with the chiming guitar melancholy of the late '80s (the terrific "Spinning Top").

Resurrecting one good bit from the '90s, And Andy inserts the obligatory hidden track, in this case an instrumental that follows disc closer "Last Year." It's always good to know you're getting more value for your money, and High & Low is a Pop fan's bargain, chocked to the brim with great, memorable songs from start to finish. (Sean Rhiney)

Odd Man Goes "Gray"
Mark Brasington of Odd Man Out and newly of Clabbergirl has made the best CD (well, best two CDs, as the release is a double set) of this young year with White Is Gray. It's a deeply personal, experimental array of sound and lyricism that is plaintive, sometimes painful and never short of completely honest.

Mixing what sounds like a clanking, crushing machine as percussion, seemingly simple guitar lines and "old school" keyboards on many tracks, Brasington leaves behind standard song structure, but never forgets to take a well-written melody along for the ride. There are hooks as well, but they come, wonderfully, from left field, as in the lush "How Longer." Lyrically, Brasington has pared down emotion to a beautiful and sometimes brutal core. For instance, the a cappella "I'm Sorry" is downright difficult, but ultimately rewarding, to listen to; it's chilling and heart-rending at the same time. It's like listening to your best friend confess to an awful crime.

White Is Gray favorably compares with two of the most famous double-discs of all time, The Beatles' White Album and Pink Floyd's The Wall. It's a yearning and passionate disc, like a half-mad artist locked in his studio, painting and repainting a masterwork as he tries to show himself, and his audience, the truth. It's music that has no fear. It's music that challenges and confronts you. It's a stirring, stunning achievement by a true artist.

White Is Gray will be released (and performed) Saturday at the 20th Century Theater in Oakley (7 p.m. start). The performance will feature several special guests and many visual elements, as well as unconventional auditory ones, such as percussion performed on cardboard boxes, smashing plates and tandem drum kits. (Dale Johnson)

Local Notes
· The Emergenza festival -- an international unsigned band competition that started in Europe over a decade ago -- is coming to Cincinnati this weekend. Over 30 local bands of varying genres will play the Cincinnati round of the event at the Blue Note on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, including hard rockers Sinamatic, modern rockers Subvinyl, Ska crew The Pinstripes and Langus (see Locals Only, below). Winners (chosen by audience members) move on to regional semi-finals and, if they are victorious there, go to Germany for the ultimate finals in August. Music starts at 8 p.m. each night. For details about the fest, check out www.emergenza.net.

· Pop Rock five-piece Bosley has decided to call it quits. The band was working on a CD, but it appears that it will not see release now. The group's last show is this Friday at the Mad Frog with July For Kings. (bosleyband.com)

· Locals are getting in on the tsunami relief benefit action. On Friday at the York Street Café in Newport, "Sound Waves: A Tsunami Relief Concert" will feature Goose, Wojo's Justin Lynch, Philosopher's Stone and patientZero. The money raised goes directly to the American Red Cross International Response Fund. Showtime is 9 p.m.