Pterodactyl Zombies

Pterodactyl have become the occasionally sung heroes of the Brooklyn noise punk scene, a title deservedly earned and held up with "School Daze," the first single off of their third album Spills Out. But Spills Out takes a turn for 60s harmony-driven pop while managing to maintain a healthy level of distortion.

Following the screeching crash of "School Daze," an excellent testament to the band's noise rock prowess, Pterodactyl slows things down with the smoky, beating guitar notes of "Allergy Shots." The album's tone shifts as well to a creepy, funereal vibe, showcasing the band's new appreciation for vocal harmonies.

"Zombies" reaches levels of Mama and Papas-like backing vocals, opening with a droning wail and set to a whining, insistent guitar. Spills Out exemplifies Pterodactyl's evolution while allowing the noise to live on: the resulting retro pop is coated in a healthy layer of reverb fuzz.

Perhaps this would be incongruous in less skilled hands, but Pterodactyl's deft touch makes for an excellent joining of influences.