Chicago-based Bound Stems' debut LP Appreciation Night is a dizzying indie pop excursion and one of the finest releases of 2006 in this reviewer's opinion. Steering clear of either the crystallized dance-friendly precision or bearded folkiness that tends to dominate the top contemporary Hype Machine™ charts, Bound Stems instead clearly set out in search of beauty in accessible excess, and that type of ambition is RARELY rewarded as richly as it is here. Appreciation Night sounds like a head full of musical ideas tumbling laughingly down a hill, tossing out gorgeous melodies, exciting break downs and vocal catharsis like so much loose change. "Andover", the first proper song, is the kind anthemic rave up of that usually ends an album after a measured, cautious series of songs. Like Modest Mouse, Bound Stems trades in pretty chaos and, like Broken Social Scene, they cram an amazing amount of texture and countermelody into a single song without defusing its visceral impact. Rather than easing up after such an impressive first shot, "Western Biographic" regains the high water mark with a slightly groovier, almost swinging, pop workout. Arguably the best, and probably the most immediately rewarding, track on Appreciation Night, "Wake Up, Ma & Pa Are Gone" which hustles and explodes through a host or ear-worming melodies. While lyricist Bobby Gallivan handles the lion's share of the vocals throughout the record, multi-instrumentalist Janie Porche takes the first section of "Excellent News, Colonel", a musical Dear John letter bound for many a heartbroken mix tape (do kids nowadays still make those?). "Risking Life & Limb for the Coupon" throws droney, twangy guitars, woozy vocals, simple piano parts, and startling, seemingly disjointed drumming in a huge stew that congeals in a big crashing wave towards the end.

Over the course of 15 tracks, Appreciation Night remains both relentless and fertile, messy and exhilarating. The interesting paradox with Appreciation Night is that it's both immediately catchy, like the New Pornographers, yet also handsomely rewards repeated close listens, like, say, the sinfully underappreciated Rum Diary [- the crowd gasps and seconds that statement with fevered palms]. It's both happy and smart, two worthy characteristics of any entity, be it friend or indie rock release. As Bound Stems have begun to rack up the acclaim for Appreciation Night and their energetic live show, one can only hope they can stay so free, confident and unhinged in future releases.