Red Ink

The highlight of my trip to this year's South by Southwest Music Festival in Austin, Texas, was being instantly hooked by the infectious charm of Denmark dance-rock band The Fashion. With a fresh, easygoing approach, the energetic foursome (five when live) has injected its major-label debut with 10 happy-go-lucky tracks that are immediate and catchy.

"Letters from the Ambulance," with its overdriven bass and electronic accents, is easy to listen to and practically begs for an audience-fueled clap-along. One of the album's standouts is "Solo Impala (Take the Money and Run)," a melodic anthem that sports an addictive singsong chorus and deep, R&B-styled beats.

The chorus to "Like Knives," a perky dance jam, will run through your head for months, and when experienced in a live setting, serves to remind just how fun music can and should be.

Let's hope "The Fashion" is a style that sticks and is not a passing trend.

 "?Joe Wertz