All I ask for in a record is that I can get into the music and that the lyrics are tolerable. Occasionally, one of those is done so well that it cancels the other out, but lately, I haven't been getting results in either of those areas from the CDs I listen to. However, the artists on New York City's Zero Hour label constantly rock the house. Zero Hour is the only label that succeeds with every band, every time.

Needless to say, Beatrice Nine floored me on every single track. I came away from this record beaten. I had to lay down. It was that awesome.

Initially, this band may strike you as just another alternative/indie rock band, but if it does, you're not really listening. If you just give it sort of a half-assed listen, it sounds like a cross between Son Volt and something British, but when you really tune in, you realize they've been flogging you while you weren't paying attention.

During Little Stars, Beatrice Nine present you with the bizarre "Salamander Suite" songs, the Velvet Underground -inspired "Wasp Meet Windshield", the downright incredible "Yolo Club" and twenty-three seconds of pure, intense, turntable abuse on "Torquemada: Master of Cruelty".

Beatrice Nine have created a brilliant record, and if you don't buy it, you'll never know what you're missing because there are few radio stations cool enough to play things that you'd actually want to hear.

-Ryan Schreiber