Radiation City: Retro Delight!

Band: Radiation City www.radiationcity.muxtape.com

Origin: Portland, OR!

Label: Tender Loving Empire www.tenderlovingempire.com (Typhoon www.myspace.com/wearetyphoon, Y La Bamba www.myspace.com/ylabamba)

Album: The Hands That Take You

Release date: Already out on cassette through Radiation City’s own Apes Tapes www.apestapes.com, on CD and vinyl September 27.

Sounds like: ‘50s doo-wop swirled with indie dream pop

Band self description:  Your parents’ record collection spent some time on the Event Horizon, and this came out.

Most satisfying part:  Singing along to Lizzy Ellison’s beautiful voice, especially on “The Color of Industry.” Love the dragged out ‘we-e-e are’ in the chorus.

Most surprising moment: Feeling like I was listening to bizarro Mew www.mewsite.com during “Park.”

Song with most dance-ability: “Salsaness” made me feel like shaking my hips!

Fun fact about Radiation City: Singer Lizzy Ellison’s boyfriend is guitarist Cameron Spies.

Want to buy it? Visit Tender Loving Empire’s site http://www.tenderlovingempire.com/radiation-city/ for great deals and extra surprises.

Want to see Radiation City in person? Too bad you (and I) missed their CD release show September 24 at the Doug Fir www.dougfirlounge.com. Nothing scheduled after that. Let’s hope they’re making more music.

Rating (from Meh to Amazing with Average and Lovely in between): Amazing.

Video Treat: Radiation City performs “The Color of Industry” in Alameda, CA on May 6, 2011.