Harvey Danger

After their breakthrough hit "Flagpole Sitta” took over the airwaves in 1998, Harvey Danger seemed to disappear. Some observant folks noticed their criminally-ignored sophomore effort King James Version, but for the most part, it seemed like they were just another band who failed to capitalise on their moment in the spotlight. That opinion might be a little harsh because Harvey Danger were always more talented than their track record implies, with their last album deserving the same treatment as Weezer’s Pinkerton — a lost classic that might some day get the praise it deserves. Until then, there’s Little By Little, their newly released third album that keeps their perfect record when it comes to good versus mediocre. It might not be remarkably different from their earlier work, but putting a five-year gap between records has kept them fresh and their capacity for sarcasm is also undiminished too. Sounding like a mix of Ben Folds and Nada Surf, their songs put an emphasis on melody, but they aren’t afraid of spitting out some bile if the target deserves — the first single, "Cream and Bastards Rise,” is a perfect example. And how do they compensate for being away for half a decade no longer with a major record deal? By making the album available on their website as a free download. That’s right, there’s absolutely no excuse not to own this great album because you can download this for nothing — though there are six more songs on a bonus CD as incentive to actually buy the album. This is a brave move by an entertaining band who are more concerned with people hearing their music than making a quick buck.