Gravity Gets Things Done

The college punk-pop and independent label rock world is a dangerous place full of gratuitous time changes, obscure keys and pretentious lyrics, often lacking the most basic concepts of harmony and melody.

Some bands, such as The Pale, can avoid these perils, transcend its situation and release great albums. The Pale's third album, "Gravity Gets Things Done," finds Bellingham's new golden boys comfortably balancing the narrow line between intelligent punk and catchy pop.

The result is what indie rock should be: instantly catchy, familiar, yet original and increasingly rewarding with every listening experience.

"Space to Move," begins the 10-track album with an upbeat, slightly dissonant and disconnected guitar riff, a perfect introduction to the band's sound. Rhythm guitar, bass and drums join in effortless layers, almost unnoticed until Gabe Archer's captivating voice completes the melody. In this song, as well as most of the others on the album, Archer's vocals stand delicately in front of the music while pulling the textures of the band's instrumentation from the background.

The band members' six years together has served them well. They work together in a way only a skilled group of musicians can. Each flawlessly complements the other. Individual parts never compete for center stage and even discordant passages sound natural and cohesive.

Songs of frustration, confusion, longing and elation fill the album's 40 minutes. It's typical indie fare that never sounds typical, a perfect hybrid of Elliot Smith's sullen introspectiveness and Fountains of Wayne's sugary-sweet pop indulgences.

The album's third track, "How to Fit In," stands out as a tale of a confused outcast who does not fully realize he is cooler than the cool kids he wants to hang out with. Archer ends the song by asking, "But do I want to fit in with you?" deciphering in three minutes what normally takes the majority of adolescence to discover.