Mission of Burma

Mission of Burma

From Sonic Youth to Yo La Tengo, Matador Records has sponsored the indie rock reawakening of 2009. The same sentiment holds true for the Mission of Burma's The Sound the Speed the Light. Whereas 2004's ONoffON reaffirmed The Horrible Truth About Burma after a 19-year hiatus – caused by guitarist Roger Miller's severe tinnitus – and 2006's The Obliterati only turned up the volume, this latest LP completes the Boston quartet's post-millennium trifecta. Never quite reaching for its collective revolver, opening anthem "1,2,3, Partyy!," the sweaty swagger of "Possession," and ultimate kiss-off "So Fuck It" conjure MOB's post-punk fury behind Miller's guitar fissions. There's more experimentation this time around and even some of Pete Townshend's cyclical reflection at work in the mellow "Forget Yourself," "After the Rain," and nostalgic "SSL 83." A surprising change of pace for a band that shows no signs of slowing down. (Sunday, 6:35pm, Orange Stage.)