Kids these days. I don’t know where they find the time to be in five different music projects and drop new music like it’s going out of style. I think what’s so cool about The Fort’s music scene is that everyone loves collaborating. This band beget that band, which then birthed four others. And the amazing thing is that they’re all great.

One such band that came across my desk is The Igloos. 

A hybrid of the defunct Namen Namen (brothers Ron Record, aka Roman New Time, and Dylan Record) and sundogsarah (Sarah Smith) with vocalist Ciara Pulliam, this indie rock quartet locks into the best of early ’90s college rock with a touch of outsider art for good measure. All of these musicians come from projects that can write great pop music but aren’t afraid to throw in some no wave or Pavement messiness when the mood strikes.

Their self-titled EP will pass by your ears like the landscape in a car going 95 mph on the freeway — there are no long, drawn out journey songs. The frenetic rhythms and showtunes piano lines are quick and to the point. 

“Pull Me Through” moves in janky rhythmic pulls that are playful and mildly neurotic. Pulliam delivers upbeat vocals that meet the music’s energy note for caffeinated note. “Little Birdy” sounds like Blake Babies meet Spoon in a tip-top melody you won’t soon forget: garage rock bubblegum pop, black licorice, and Xanax-flavored.

“Around the World” shakes and shimmies like The Raincoats and The dBs putting their spin on Brill Building pop. “You Got Your Life” makes a mess of some 12-bar blues in the best way. Pulliam sounds like The Waitresses’ Patty Donahue jamming with The Plastic Ono Band, and I’m here for it. “Snake in the Grass” is a loud and brash near instrumental that closes the EP out: part Joe Jackson, part Ben Folds, part sugar rush energy.

The Igloos is a sound for sore ears, a playful, off-kilter, and slightly dizzying collection of indie, college, pop rock with a generous portion of Jackson Pollack messiness.