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Of God and Science, "Of God and Science" (Detach Records, out May 1)

This Albuquerque four-piece plays shoegaze rock with a mellow jazzy feel and a piano that fills the open spaces. The vocal harmonies give it pop ballast.

On the opener "5'7" " and "A Lesson in Decay," the group is reminiscent of Radiohead as it floats along a melody while propelling the rhythm forward. They can be minimalist yet expansive (the 6-minute rock-out of "EMEF").

The dreamy instrumental "Nations are Cults" is all languid pedal steel guitar, while "America's Queen" is anthemic pop (with banjo).

The songs are mostly about relationships, i.e., love or the lack thereof: the poppy "Empty Space" is a jazzy shuffle; "Into the Light" is a piano/guitar dirge with crashing drum fills; and the banjo-accordion lament "Drift Alone" closes out the proceedings.

This quartet is brash without being abrasive, and the record is superb from start to finish.

Of God and Science - Jeremy Fine, Julian Martinez, Ryan Martino and Matthew Dominguez - is having a hometown CD release party tonight at the Launchpad, 618 Central S.W., before the record goes national the first of next month. The Dirty Novels, Lowlights and Zolton Trio help celebrate at 9 p.m. $7. 21 and over only. 764-8887.

Listen to "5'7"

Valient Thorr, "Legend of the World" (Volcom Entertainment/East West)

This quintet's shtick is that they are from Venus and are here to save Earth through rock 'n' roll. The music is thrashy, in-your-face shambling riff rock a lá Thin Lizzy ("Rezerection"). It's a loud, punkish rendering of classic rock.

Valient Himself's vocal delivery is of the shout-along variety, scabrous yet passionate. And the lyrics deal with cosmic truths and extraterrestrial mythology, however, sometimes in a rather simplistic ("Lime Green Net" where personal choice butts heads with fate vs. destiny) and heavy-handed manner ("Fall of Pangea").

These guys are mad as hell, and they're going to let you know about it, too. This disc is almost like pick-a-rant: religion ("False Profits"); modern life ("Problem Solver"); government ("Goveruptcy," where history's repeating) and guilt as control ("Con Science").

Bush gets his, too, on "Triceratops"; the political tongue lashing of "Har Megiddo" where our weapons of mass destruction lead to Har Megiddo (Armageddon); and the anti-war "Exit Strategy" with the lyric: "They sent your son with a plan, to fight some war in a desert land. He ain't gonna come home again. He's makin' some money for a Texas man." That's about as coherent as they get.

Valient Thorr cruises into the Launchpad from outer space on Tuesday. Fu Manchu headlines, with Seemless and SuperGiant also sharing the bill. 9 p.m. $10. 21 and over only. 764-8887.