There's something very charming about an album that reveals its myriad charms over several listens, rather than slapping you across the face with a handful o' hooks all at once (not that there's anything with that, of course). Such is the case with Haywood's debut release, Men Called Him Mister.

On the first spin, you might notice the almost Cars-like handclaps- and- power- chords intro to "The Kids are Taking Aim," and the line about "Painting the apartment blue" from "Newbie Zimbo." Next time, the jazzy chords of "Take an Inventory" and the straight-ahead power-pop of "Keystone Rag" might reveal themselves. And the time after that, the band's nine minute opus, "Pink and White," might go from "somewhat boring" to "goddamn great." If you're not hooked after that, I don't know what to tell you.

I first came across Haywood back in college radio. They were a band who managed to rip off a Metallica lick and create a sensitive indie rock song out of it. I can get into that. Of course, buying a full-length on the strength of one 7" can be a risky business-- sometimes you find a band that blew its entire wad of creativity on two sides of wax, and sometimes you get lucky with a band like Haywood, where two songs are just the beginning.

Haywood is one of those rare bands that manage to wear their influences on their sleeves without really sounding like any of them. The new-wave flourishes on "The Kids are Taking Aim" only add to the enthusiastic glee of the song, and the chiming guitar pop on display in "You Talk Twice" and "Little Black Dress Club" manage to sound completely familiar, yet not even slightly derivative.

As far as their peers go, Haywood could be a much less histrionic Modest Mouse, a less mopey and less complex Karate, or a less overtly-weird Sunset Valley. But in the end they manage to sound just like Haywood, which works pretty well for them.

-Jeremy Schneyer