The Datsuns — Headstunts

The number of early-aught garage rock revival also-rans is staggering. For every White Stripes, there are a dozen Von Bondies. I guess that's what happens when even leading lights like The Strokes and The Hives can't sustain a fickle public's interest for more than a couple of records.

While The Datsuns lean more towards The Von Bondies side of the spectrum, the New Zealand quartet were spared an embarrassing fall from grace by never actually producing a hit. Instead, they've cleverly flown just below the radar here in North America, never on the tip of the tongue, but always in the back of the mind.

Headstunts continues the band's string of excellent records since they formed in 1997. The Datsuns are heads above and years ahead of most of their contemporaries and are one of the few retro-rockers to actually have songs to go along with their raucous sound.

"Eye Of The Needle" is a prime example. It's a slow-burning head-trip propelled by a pulsing bass line punctuated with reverb-heavy vocals. The group are able to produce nuance while still showing how to bring the rawk, even on rockers like album opener "Human Error." Once again, The Datsuns prove too big for the garage rock box that critics once tried to put them in.