Pitchfork

Flash back to the mid-nineties, when a nascent Pitchforkmedia.com was handing out high scores all willy-nilly, and you'll find a glowing 10.0 review of an EP called Gay? by a not-much- talked-about-anymore act called 12 Rods. Whether deserved or not, the record stands, and while 12 Rods dissolved back in 2004, former frontman Ryan Olcott continues to hone his craft today-- with Mystery Palace.

The Minneapolis-based synth-pop trio-- featuring Olcott (in FoodTeam guise) on keyboards and vocals, James Buckley on bass, and Joey Van Phillips on drums-- issued its debut LP, Flags Forward, this week via Milwaukee's Zod Records. The album, which the band celebrated at a few record release gigs this past weekend, follows up last month's "Stepchild" single. Check out some sample jams on the trio's website. They're not exactly 10.0 territory, but they are, well, interesting.