Before their third full-length album Wire Post to Wire ever enters the CD player, The Standard is already a perplexing band. Their name in itself is one big rhetorical question.

Are they egomaniacs, proclaiming to the world that they have raised the bar, and that they are the standard for every musical act to follow from now until kingdom come? Or are they saying, “You know, we’re pretty standard; we’re just kind of your average, run of the mill band, striving for mediocrity.”

Hailing from Portland, Ore., The Standard recorded their debut self-titled album in 1999 and followed it up in 2001 with August, on the indie label Touch and Go. Wire Post to Wire is the band’s debut with Chapel Hill based label Yep Roc.

Upon first listen, Wire Post to Wire sounds similar to many of the bands out there trying to make it big. Even their bio sheet sounds familiar. The story has been told countless times:

Band So-and-So has a tireless work ethic, an unbelievably intense live show, and are influenced by Husker Du, Sonic Youth, and the Cure (but don’t forget the greats like The Beatles and Bob Dylan.). Band so-and-so is going back to their roots on their new album, opting for a minimalist approach and a raw, aggressive sound. This will be a coming-of-age for Band So-and-So. Band So-and-So’s unorthodox songwriting will stick a proverbial middle finger in the face of corporate rock n’ roll.

By the way, all the band members wear tight clothes and have oh-so-meticulously disheveled hair.

However, after you cut through the band’s somewhat generic image, Wire Post to Wire is not a bad record at all. Produced by Jeff Saltzman (Stephen Malkmus, Sleater-Kinney), it’s a 51-minute dream sequence. The album ranges from soft, floaty songs to more upbeat, almost majestic efforts.

The highlights include “Ghosts for Hire,” one of the more energetic selections, as well as “Jump Rope,” which is a rollercoaster of sorts, constantly changing tempo and style. In addition to the guitars, bass, and drums, many songs like “Even Numbers” and “Unicorns and Chemicals” feature keyboard, piano, and cello, which are good additions to the record.

While not perfect, Wire Post to Wire is worth a listen, especially for fans of The Shins or The Clinic. With the present trend of return-of-the-rock type bands, it is a little surprising that these guys aren’t more popular than they are. Check it out…