By Chad Taylor
soundcheck@dmcityview.com

Holy White Hounds

“Holy White Hounds”

Independent

The most important thing about Holy White Hounds — they are fun. The guys can play, they clearly work well together and the product they’re pushing goes down as easily as a shot of Jack. Their self-titled EP is poppy while managing to sport its blues roots proudly; it changes gears nicely and oh damn, is that a talk box on “Sunday Morning”? The EP carries no dead weight anywhere on its five-song length, but the band had the good sense to kick things off with “Tell Me I’m OK,” which is easily the most arresting track. It might sound like a backhanded compliment, but Holy White Hounds is a perfect “local music circuit” kind of band; rather than sitting 60 rows back and watching a screen, these guys are best experienced from 10 feet away so you can suck in all that glorious noise and hand the fellows a beer between songs. CV

(Holy White Hounds EP release party is at Vaudeville Mews on Friday, Jan. 20. 8 p.m., 21 and older, $5)

Polkadot Cadaver

“Sex Offender”

Rotten Records

Polkadot Cadaver is the kind of band who will rock your ears right off your head, then kick them under the couch, just to be dicks. Here’s the thing: “Sex Offender” reminds me of some early Stabbing Westward, even though Polkadot Cadaver is almost nothing like Stabbing Westward. The album is hard, fast and immaculately constructed. Featuring everything from synth to wall-of-sound to speed metal undertones, there’s a decent amount of variety on display here to appeal to a surprising array of people. I’m a big fan of a well-constructed album, and “Sex Offender” fits the bill. Opening track “Opus Day” is a stunning surprise for anyone unfamiliar with the band, and closing track “Forever and a Day” has the kind of epic feel that lets you know you didn’t just waste your time. CV

(Polkadot Cadaver plays Vaudeville Mews on Sunday, Jan. 22. 5 p.m., all ages, $15.)

Want your new CD reviewed? Email us a link at soundcheck@dmcityview.com or mail a physical copy to: Cityview, 414 61st Street, Des Moines, IA 50312.