Rachel's Apartment Self Released***

Dublin band Reader's Wives have been floating around for some years, to little or no avail beyond a small, devoted fanbase. Under the stewardship of Niall James Holohan, the fact that the unit is still in existence proves resilience, stubbornness or both. The quality of the songs is the best test, and on the band's second album there are more reasons to like than to dismiss. It helps that Holohan has a snotty, cynical, devil-may- care approach that is enveloped by a strong pop sensibility. Wasted Youth, Light Up, You Must Have Been Crazyand God with a Briganddisplay the kind of errant mouthiness that went out when New Romance came in. It helps, also, that Cathal Coughlan is on board for the spoken-word track Isadora Duncan.Ultimately, however, it helps that Holohan, quite obviously, has talent to burn. See readerswivesband.com

Download tracks: Wasted Youth, You Must Have Been Crazy, Isadora Duncan