I’m pretty excited about the material I’m getting to share with you today, especially since it’s only been a few days since I first stumbled upon Nashville-based, electro-pop-rockers Paper Route. What can I say: this young band makes SOUNDS!!! So hone in your Radar - here comes something Fresh.

Ever since Paper Route released their first full-length album called Absence in late April, they have been touring the states and abroad showcasing their complex, layered sounds and rhythms. Their music is heavily produced, yet while their sound is definitely electro-pop, the tone of their music is richer and darker than, say, Franz Ferdinand or Phoenix. A listen to the initial track on the album, “Enemy Among Us,” illustrates this perfectly.

As I’ve listened to Absence again and again this week, I’ve been impressed with Paper Route’s ability to combine such rich, moody sounds with, on occasion, pure energy. “Wish” and “Carousel,” the second and third tracks on the album, are bounding with forceful, explosive energy. I am reminded of the first time I listened to Muse’s Absolution. Forget socks - my entire feet were knocked off.

The band’s vocalists, JT Daly and Andy Smith, collaborate to form a sound not unlike Coldplay’s Chris Martin, or Blue Merle’s Luke Reynolds. Their lyrics are metaphoric and occasionally enigmatic, fitting the tone of the rest of the band’s sounds like a glove.

I can’t wait to see what these guys do over the next several years. Pick up Absence on Amazon (very affordable, by the way…eight bucks for 12 songs!) and keep an eye on these guys for future releases. And be sure to pop into their myspace page for tour info.