The Battles "Changes"

Not to be confused with that goofy heavy-handed group without the 'the', The Battles hail from Vancouver. Tomorrow's Eager Hands is their second full-length after a long, five-year sojourn. The new songs deliver on the promise of their debut (2001's Lycanthropy); Stephen Wood's songwriting chops crib from some of the classiest in art rock's past (Bryan Ferry, Mayo Thompson) and his band boasts a who's-who of Vancouver music, his members of Destroyer, Sinoia Caves, Loscil, Precious Fathers, and Black Mountain in the mix. Brilliant record.