I haven't been so immediately taken with a CD since "McLusky Do Dallas".

Sounds like these guys learned to write by listening exclusively to Sister Ray.

...then you've never seen them in concert when Ira goes apeshit on the guitar and/or organ. I'm just saying, they can do "My Little Corner of the World" followed by "Mushroom Cloud of Hiss."

I redact my earlier statement.

a punk band but the term is so loose nowadays that it could mean a while slew of things

It always has been an incredibly loose term. Back in the 70s both the Ramones and the Talking Heads were considered punk.

Bryan Hurst asked: 'I'm trying to think of significant musical acts Lexington has given us, and I'm stuck at Richard Hell.'

I think Richmond claims them too, but a couple members of band hailed from around Lexington. Also, I think a Backstreet Boy was from Lexington.

I try not to Google if I can help it, so I might be wrong here.

probably fit the thesis of your story even better than the two bands mentioned...and they have a new record out too...

And my favorite band is GBV, so it's not like I'm a hifi snob.

This is a good article, but it makes it seem like the only choices are between overproduced mall punk and faux-retro indie garage rock. There are plenty of bands that still play melodic and aggressive punk without falling into either of these. Rise Against is one that comes to mind. Anti-Flag is also still around, as are Bad Religion and Propagandhi. If you insist on your punk being grungy, The Explosion is decent. Basically I'm just trying to say that there's more out there than the radio on one hand and the narrow range of styles that the elitist Pitchfork deems worthy of consideration on the other.

Good to see them get some more exposure. I too was afraid of what would happen when they jumped labels, even though the label was still an independent. They're kind of like a more punk/new wave version of Guided by Voices. I say that only in part because they're both from my home state of Ohio.

Of course, you can ask the question, what the hell is punk in 2008? I myself have referred to Times New Viking as a punk band but the term is so loose nowadays that it could mean a while slew of things.

we all seem to be a little geographically challenged today. Slint was from Louisville, not Lexington. I'm trying to think of significant musical acts Lexington has given us, and I'm stuck at Richard Hell.

You know, I was going to post about the Nashville issue also, but then it occurred to me there are also great things happening in Louisville (My Morning Jacket, which aren't punk but are great live) and Lexington, home of the notorious Slint...it's not such a bad state with which to be confused. And hey, at least Nashville's within a half hour or so of the border, so maybe an easy mistake to make.

On the other hand, shhhhh! Nashville still enjoys a smallish but fantastic music scene in which it's possible to actually become acquainted with folks in bands, the people that run all the local bars, etc. You can also get tickets to see shows by a lot of different artists here (not just the two kinds of music, a la Blues Brothers: country and western) for a reasonable price, and find easy, cheap parking once you arrive at the venue.

It's not such a bad assortment of wool to pull over the eyes of those who look at every community not in New York or California as "flyover country," but then on the other hand, the joke's kind of on them, isn't it?

Be Your Own Pet are not from Kentucky, they're from Nashville, TN (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Be_your_own_pet). Music City? That's hardly a hometown "off the radar".

Article didn't mention my favorite of their songs, The Kelly Affair. It's funny reading the youtube comments... most of their audience are too young to get the Beyond the Valley of the Dolls reference, but they like the song anyway.

These kids are about as "punk" as the soundtrack to "Ella Enchanted," but they make some catchy music.