Minneapolis group Clair De Lune has all the angst and intensity of “emo/screamo” bands, but there is no screaming. Egads, dudes can sing! This is what sells songs such as “Killjoy” with its twists and gear changes that evoke a cross between Coldplay and Taking Back Sunday. The band also prospers during “Catapults” and “Checkers”, the latter being a tad lighter in tone, but just as beautiful while the guitar work and interplay among the band on “Airplanes” is quite refreshing, even giving the listener a teaser at what could end up being a rockabilly-influenced instrumental bridge. Perhaps the first true highlight is the urgency felt and heard on the meaty but melancholic rocker “Black Heart Charades”, not your average cookie-cutter rock song. Just as stellar is “I’m a People Person”. Unfortunately they get too cute with the orchestral instrumental “Winning Over Grief and Sorrow”, which diminishes the previous efforts quite a bit. Clair De Lune go over the moon however with a rollicking and intricate epic called “Criminal” to close things out that brings The Police to mind.

• "Assisted Living" MP3
• Multiple songs MySpace