Orbit - Libido Speedway (1996)

This Boston band takes hard-edged alternative rock and spins it askew. The quirky, almost-quiet intro of "Bicycle Song" leads into a loud wall of guitar and vocals that gradually transform the line "What a pretty bicycle/I want one just like that" into a ferociously lustful innuendo, all in a temptingly tongue-in-cheek spirit. As loud and high-energy as Orbit is, there is a unifying sense of melody behind the playing that reins in the cacophony and gives it a solid pop sensibility. In "Medicine," it comes from the easy-going bass line; in "Why You Won't," it's the palpable sense of neurosis; in "Paper Bag," it's the catchy guitar melody and up-close vocals. LIBIDO SPEEDWAY is a big, bold debut, sexy and fast.