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Four Letter Lie, "Let Your Body Take Over" (Victory Records)

Like labelmates Silverstein, this Minneapolis quintet falls within the emo/screamo realm, exploring the yin/yang sensibilities with about equal parts singing and screamed/growled vocals. Though this is somewhat hardcore with dual guitars, it can also be very melodic.

Lyrical themes usually fall into one of three categories: girls ("Baby, You're My Bad Habit"); angst ("The Ordinary Life," a guitar epic with martial drumming that deals with the price of fame); or partying ("Full Tilt Boogie"); and/or a combination of the three ("Naked Girl Avalanche"). They even get into some metal riffage, as on "Cowboys & Indians" and "Tell Me About Everything," where they sound a little like Incubus reaching for the stars but with growling vocals.

However, when the band takes a detour, the results can be refreshing and illuminating. "Feel Like Fame" is an up-tempo emo-pop ballad with an acoustic guitar intro and middle break that, while mostly sung, reverses the screamo verses and sung choruses. "It Was A Business Doing Pleasure" is a mellow, bittersweet rocker; the lovely acoustic ballad "Firecracker Four Letter Lie" is a love song of sorts; while "Rocky Loves Emily" is the most rock song of the bunch. Although the guys return to girls and rage some on the title track, they reveal themselves to just be emo boys at heart.

Four Letter Lie is direct support for Greeley Estates on Tuesday at the Launchpad, 618 Central Ave. S.W. BlessTheFall and Alesana open the all-ages show at 7 p.m. $10. Call 764-8887. www.virtuous.com

Army Of Anyone, "Army Of Anyone" (Firm Music)

This army is what you get when you combine half of Stone Temple Pilots with the lead singer from Filter and add David Lee Roth's former drummer: hard rock with a grungy feel and a classic pop-rock-metal sound. It's very STP-ish ("It Doesn't Seem To Matter"), which itself was Led Zep derived (not a bad pedigree for either band).

A prime example is the first single "Goodbye," which is getting much airplay; it's a blast of melodic bombast that exploits the loud-soft-loud dynamic.

Former Pilot Dean DeLeo has always been underrated as a guitarist. Here, his power chords are still reaching for the back rows of the arena (the syncopated "Disappear" with a melodic guitar hook; the midtempo rocker "Stop Look And Listen" that has a psychedelic feel; and the psychedelic atmospherics of "Ain't Enough" with its rock-steady beat courtesy of brother Robert on bass and drummer Ray Luzier).

Ex-Filter vocalist Richard Patrick proves a worthy foil in the vein of Scott Wieland: airy, soaring vocals with wailing as necessary ("Generation" and the droning harmonies of "Non Stop"). The guys mellow out a bit on the hard-rock balladry of "A Better Place" and "This Wasn't Supposed To Happen," a slow, languid acoustic guitar lament.

Army Of Anyone has been on a one-month, 19-date club tour since its debut came out in mid-November. It makes a Duke City stop Sunday at the Sunshine Theater, 120 Central Ave. S.W., as the headliner for radio station "The Edge's Not So Silent Night." Skillet, Plain White T's, Anesthesia and Brave New World share the bill for the all-ages show. Doors at 6 p.m. Admission is a donation of a new toy worth $10 or more. Call 338-3334, 830-6400 or visit www.1047edgeradio.com for more info. Smoking and alcohol service in segregated areas only.

Listen to "Goodbye"

Tokyo Police Club, "A Lesson In Crime" (Paper Bag Records)

While this Toronto quartet with the great name rushes through seven tunes in just more than 16 minutes, much is on display on these discordant songs with pop undertones ("Cheer It On," where the Strokes meet the Blood Brothers; vocalist David Monks even sounds a little like Julian Casablancas).

Ultimately, these are hooky and catchy pop songs, even as they aspire to Pavement-like proportions (the atonal chiming of "Nature Of The Experiment" and "Shoulder & Arms"). Handclaps are put to good use on two tracks: The post-punk garage rocker "Be Good" also uses shout-along choruses and blistering guitars, while "Citizens Of Tomorrow" incorporates organs in the battle between mankind and robotdom ("Citizens of tomorrow be forewarned!").

Closer "La Ferrassie" is deceptive, as it starts out in mellow, chill-out mode before exploding in an electronic riot of sound. This is one lesson that is far too short, but shows beaucoup potential.

Listen to "Nature of the Experiment"

Hello Stranger, "Hello Stranger" (Aeronaut Records)

This L.A. four-piece seems to be musically stuck in the Õ80s, which is not such a bad deal. Led by vocalist Juliette Commagere and drummer Joachim Cooder, son of legendary guitarist Ry Cooder who produced this debut effort, the Stranger is intrigued by all things with keys: heavy on the synths, organs, keyboards, clavinet and the keytar, a keyboard with a guitar neck and strap that's played while the person is standing much like a six-string (remember Kansas?).

Commagere has a pop perfect voice, as on the breezy "Here We Go Again"; the moodily dreamy "Kubrick Eyes"; the plaintively stark "We Used To Talk"; and "Which Side Is Mine," a slice of pure pop.

"Take It To The Maxx" is a pop disco dance tune, while "Es Tu Vida" is funky disco sung in Spanish. The pumping, driving "Her In These Lights" reimagines Blondie's Debbie Harry fronting the Cars. This quartet uses a galloping rhythm and a bag pipes break to great affect on "Plain And Simple," while New Wave synths and manipulated vocals populate "Everyone Comes Here," a lament about growing up and living in the City of (not so) Angels. They also tackle the robot dilemma on "Robody," contemplating interspecies dating/mating while impressed by the eye candy ("Ooh, you've got a sexy robody").

Listen to "Take It to the Maxx"