This Microwave World, A Formatik on Tact's, Yuppie Pricks, Ignorance Park, Platforms, and Pretty Please

So they're not moving to New York after all. Great news for all us Disco Hospital patients, but This Microwave World's Love Your Zine, Let's Go to Bed is so Williamsburg you can almost smell the East River. Louche, kinetic, and a little frayed, this six-song volley dares you not to dance. "Fun Fun Fun" is nothing but – Prince after a three-day Joy Division bender. Speaking of JD, the Manchester mopers' "As You Said," refashioned via Tortoise into something approaching electro-jazz, is the centerpiece of Attack Formation splinter cell A-Formatik on Tact's Snakes and Sliders. Even with all the skittering drum machines and experimental bells and whistles, Ben Webster and co. can't quite cover up their punk rock heart. Over on Wall Street, the Yuppie Pricks' Hostile Takeover revisits the universe where Jello Biafra works for Halliburton and G.G. Allin drives a Range Rover. "Borrowing" Queen's "We Will Rock You" beat to kick off "Coke Party" is inspired, but better still is smirking Schwarzenegger homage "Hummer in My Hummer." Ignorance Park isn't above a little old-school idealism, calling out the APD on "Tear Gas, Baby." Elsewhere reminiscent of Elvis Costello, Nick Lowe, and "Rudie Can't Fail"-era Clash, their self-titled four-song effort peaks on the sinewy, Psych Furs-like "Funeral Date." A date with the Platforms' self-titled debut is certainly worth keeping, especially when the four garage fashionistas start in with the dirty talk on "Bang Me." Their fuzzy rendition of "These Boots Were Made for Walking" is enough to get anyone hot under the collar. For that matter, so is "The Artificial Hearts," a keeper from the Pretty Please's Demonstration bow. "The Rock Star Guide to Falling Apart" sends the Beatles' "Ticket to Ride" through the Trance Syndicate car wash, and throughout, the chemistry between Carrie Clark, Kevin Whitley, and Matt Hovis suggests this tumultuous trio could really go places. Just not to New York – pretty please?